


VIRGINIA 



Before and During the War 



— BY — 



H. H, FARMER M.D. 



HENDERSON, KY. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1892. 



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PREFACE. 

In the winter of 1889 I commenced writing the little work 
now published, to amuse me in my leisure time, with no thought 
of publishing. As I progressed, 1 came to the conclusion that 
those who might read might, from its perusal, form a truer esti- 
mate of the state of society and of opinions in the South and 
especially in Virginia, than usually prevails. In treating the 
history of the times, and of the character of the actors therein, 
I have endeavored to be fair and true. Above all things, historic 
veracity should be observed. Whilst it is right that we should 
respect the memory of great men who have gone before us, we 
ought not, in admiration for their success or brilliant achieve- 
ments, make a false estimate of their characters. Whatever esti- 
mate we may form of the justifiableness of our civil war, and of 
the characters of the prominent actors therein, all must recognize 
the fact that it settled forever some great questions, and that 
secession of states can never take place again. We are united 
for good or for evil, probably for ages ; and, if we are ever 
divided, the dividing line will not run as in 1861. Believing, as I 
do, that neither side was justifiable in its course during and pre- 
ceding the war, I do not think we should hold up the prominent 
actors as models to be imitated by the young, but as examples of 
men carried away by the violence of party spirit into error. 
Doubtless the great body of those engaged in the war thought 
they were doing right ; but all history teaches that the sincerity 
o men cannot be taken as proof that their actions are good. If 
my views are not absolutely correct, it will do good for the young 
who are now being taught that the war against secession was ex- 
ceedingly righteous, and the great civilians and Generals on the 
Union side — the greatest and best of men — to learn that there is 
another side to this question. 



— 4 — 

The young should be taught to rightly estimate the actions 
of those that have gone before them, and profit by their errors. 
No division of the United States can in the future take place on 
the old line, so the North and South are permanently united for 
good or for evil ; hence, all should accept results in good faith 
and seek the common good, laying aside all animosity for the 
past. No opinion of the injustice of the means by which he was 
freed should cause us to entertain animosity against the negro, 
who was passive in the conflict. The fact that there are two dis- 
similar races, in nearly equal numbers, occupying the same terri- 
tory, is a source of many difficulties and dangers which those 
living elsewhere cannot fully understand, and makes the admin- 
istration of the government difficult. But the wealthier and 
more intelligent race, while attending to its own safety, should 
not ever violate, in dealing with the other, the great principles of 
justice and humanity. 



Virginia Before and During the War. 



CHAPTER I. 

In December, 1855, early in the morning, a barouche drawn 
by two spirited horses left the town of Danville, Va. Strapped 
on behind was a large traveling-trunk. The driver sitting on the 
front seat was a youth of fifteen years, though from his size and 
manner he seemed to be at least two years older. He had a fine 
face, and large, well-formed head. His hair was chestnut and 
slightly curling, his eyes large and blue, and his expression frank 
and open. Taken altogether, he was a very handsome and pre- 
possessing boy. There was only one other occupant of the 
barouche — a lady, sitting on the back seat. She was dressed 
with remarkable neatness, apparently about twenty-five years 
old. had a very pleasant and intelligent countenance, and, though 
not beautiful, might be considered decidedly good-looking. Her 
hair was dark, and her complexion, though brunette, was clear, 
showing a tinge of red on her cheeks, and her whole appearance 
indicated good health. The youth described was Willie Buford, 
the son of Judge Buford, living about thirty miles west of Dan- 
ville, wdio had been sent to bring home with him Miss Annie 
Heath, of New Hampshire, who was coming to take charge of 
the education of the Judge's daughter. For several days the 
weather had been quite mild, for the season and on this day was 
almost sultry. 

The country through which they passed had a strange and 
almost foreign appearance to Miss Heath. After leaving the 
town a few miles, nearly all the fences were of rails, one placed 
over the other at the ends, and the different panels inclined to 
each other at an angle to keep from falling. The road in some 

(5) 



6 — 



places passed through forests that had never been felled, and in 
other places through old field-pines— that is, pines that had 
sprung up in fields once cultivated, but long since abandoned. 
The appearance of a sparsely populated country was in stiong 
contrast with what she had been accustomed to in the Northern 
States. The fields had a dreary appearance, and very few per- 
sons were visible. However, they passed some large wheat fields 
looking quite green and promising. Occasionally they would 
see, mostly at some distance from the '-oad, a large two-storied 
house; but thp residences were mostly framed cottages, many 
without paint or whitewash, and near them two or three cabins 
of boards or logs, being the homes of small slave-holders. Some- 
times thev passed small houses where there seemed to be no ne- 
groes, and nothing visible but bare-headed white children, who 
would run out to stare at the passing vehicle, accompanied by 
yelping curs. A noticeable feature about all these houses was 
that near them there was alwavs an immense pile of wood in 
pieces eight or ten feet long, to be used for fuel. To Miss Heath's 
remark about the strange lonesomeness of the road, Willie ex- 
plained that it was a tobacco season — that is, that from the damp 
and warm weather the tobacco leaf had become supple enough 
to handle, and everybody was stripping tobacco— that is pull- 
iir t'i- laaves front'12 stalk aui tying them into bundles. 

And they soon came opposite a large framed building, with 
large folding-doors wide open. Within they could see a 
number of negroes of both sexes and all ages, sitting or standing 
around large heaps of tobacco, busily engaged. A white man 
was moving around, inspecting their work. As Willie stopped 
his horses a few minutes to let Miss Heath see the work, one of 
the negro men commenced singing one of their strange, weird 
melodies, in which he was soon joined by all the rest. For 
nearly a mile they could hear the melancholy ditty. In their 
conversation, Willie told that he frequently stripped tobacco, and 
when not at school did other work on the plantation; that his 
father wished him to learn how everything about a farm ought 



— 7 — 

to be done. Miss Heath remarked that she had supposed that 
slave-holders never did any work. Willie told her that it was 
customary for small slavediolders and their sons to labor in the 
fields with their negroes, and even the sons of wealthy men 
sometimes labored, so as to familiarize themselves with all the 
processes necessary in farming, and become good judges of how 
the business should be carried on. He told her he was going to 
school, and that he rode every day a distance of three miles; 
that yesterday, being Friday, his father had sent him to meet her 
in Danville, as he would only lose one day at the end of the 
week ; that if the negro coachman had been sent, he or his father 
would have accompanied him, as they did not suppose c he would 
like to go the distance with the negro alone. Hs also stated that 
next autumn he expected to go to college; that he wished to be 
a soldier and go to West Point or the Virginia Military Institute, 
but that his father wished him to study his own profession— the 
law. Miss Heath advised him to follow his father's wish. She 
hoped and believed there would be very little prospect for mili- 
tary distinction in this country. As the day advanced it com- 
menced raining, and the wind shifted to the north. Soon the 
wind became so high that it was very disagreeable to continue 
the journey. The horses were urged to their best speed in hopes 
of reaching home, which was now but a few miles distant. But, 
as the storm increased, Willie remarked that they had better stop 
at Mrs. Campbell's, whose house they were approaching, telling 
Miss Heath she would there see one of her pupils — Mrs. Camp- 
bell's youngest daughter, Ljzzie — whom his father had consented 
to admit as a pupil to study with his daughter ; that she was the 
best and prettiest girl in the world. They soon arrived in front 
of a plain, white cottage, and they alighted, W T illie surrendering 
the team to a negro boy of about his own age who appeared at a 
c abin door, telling him to drive under the shed and loose the 
horses, but not to take off the gear. Raining and blowing as it 
was, they were met before reaching the house by the lady, um- 
brella in hand, it being a Virginia custom to go out to meet 



guests when seen approaching. Her greeting was : " Come right 
in, Willie, you and the lady ; I am afraid you are quite wet." 
The)" were ushered into a large room, in which there was a 
blazing fire of large ! >gs. In this room were Mrs. Campbell's 
daughters — Mary, a fine-looking girl of twenty, who sat busily 
sewing, and Lizze, a beautiful and sprightly-looking girl of 
thirteen, who was engaged in examining a book with large pic- 
tures. Mrs. Campbell, a large lady with a very pleasing counte- 
nance, apparently about forty-five years old, bustled around, 
trying to make her callers comfortable and at their ease. She 
pulled the logs on the fire to the front, and, going to the door, 
called for Jim to bring in a back log. Very soon a young negro 
man came in, bearing on his shoulder a log that would weigh two 
hundred pounds, and carefully laid it in the fireplace behind the 
other fuel. The furniture was all very plain, and on the floor 
was a rag carpet — that is, one made of strips cut from old cloth- 
ing of various colors, and woven into a warp of coarse cotton 
thread in the domestic loom. In one corner of the room was a 
machine never seen by Miss Heath before — a spinning wheel. 
In a short time it commenced snowing, with a fierce north wind, 
and Mrs. Campbell insisted on her guests spending the night 
with her ; but Willie declined, as he felt sure his parents would 
be uneasy about him. On Miss Heath being at last prevailed 
upon to remain, he promised that if the snow continued he would 
come for her on the morrow in his sleigh, and put her in mind of 
New Hampshire. 

After his departure, Mrs. Campbell and her daughters ex- 
erted themselves to please their guest and make her feel at home. 
In this house many conveniences were wanting that are deemed 
indispensable in a Northern cottage. The kitchen where the 
cooking was done for both white and black was at least thirty 
feet from the house, and the spring fifty yards aw 7 ay. In conver- 
sation al>out the spinning wheel, Miss Heath was informed that 
Mrs. Campbell and Mary, assisted by their negro woman, spun 
the woolen thread for the negroes' clothes, and also every year a 



— 9 — 

suit for her son, all woven at home. Formerly they wove cotton 
cloth, but of late years had discontinued this on account of its 
cheapness. Very soon after the arrival of her visitor, Mrs. 
Campbell called in a colored woman of about her own age, and 
told her to prepare supper speedily. Before supper was ready a 
young man in a heavy overcoat rode up to the gate and called for 
a boy to take his horse, and entered the house by the back way. 
This was James Campbell, the lady's son, who had been on busi- 
ness to their little neighboring town. On his entering the rcom 
some time afterwards, Miss Heath was introduced to a tall, gen- 
tlemanly young man, with an open and intellectual countenance. 
He was dressed in a new, neat-fitting suit of homespun, and his 
manner was respectful and unembarrassed, with not a particle of 
forwardness. After partaking of a plain, substantial supper, they 
all returned to the sitting-room and engaged in agreeable conver- 
sation, the young people showing more information and intelli- 
gence than would be expected from their plain surroundings. 

CHAPTER II. 

Judge Buford's residence was a plain two-stary frame, painted 
white, built in the shape of an Iy, having three large rooms to the 
story, with halls between the rooms, and having large porches on 
three sides. Near the main building was a cottage wnn cwo 
rooms, used for an office and bed-rooms for gentlemen, and back 
of it a brick building containing the kitchen and the weaving and 
spinning-room, and rooms for the house servants. At a distance 
of a quarter of a mile might be seen two rows of cottages, about 
twelve or fifteen in number, each one having a small garden. In 
these lived the negro laborers. In front of the house was a large 
lawn, thickly ser with trees, and with the grass still green. On 
the evening when our story commences, the Judge and his lady 
and two daughters sat in the parlor before a blazing wood fire 
awaiting the arrival of the new teacher. He was a tall, hand- 
some and intellectual-looking man of not more than forty-five, 



— io — 

although his full beard was slightly sprinkled with gray. His 
lady, five years his junior, had the appearance of having been a 
very beautiful woman, but now faded and in delicate health. 
Their elder daughter, Letitia, of twelve, with dark hair and large 
brown eyes like her mother's, was very quiet and sedate, whilst 
the younger, Amanda, who was ten, had a very fair complexion, 
with blue eyes and golden hair. She was all life and animation, 
continuously running from one room to another. Coming up to 
her mother and leaning on her lap she asked her how long it 
would be before Willie and the new teacher would come, saying: 
" Oh, I am so impatient to see what she is like." Her father, 
looking at his watch, told her to be a little patient, as he thought 
they would arrive in two hours. Then she ran out to go and 
talk to her b ack mammy, who was sewing in another room. 
" That child," remarked the Judge, " needs very careful train- 
ing. There is much of good and bad in her. I hope Miss Heath 
may prove a good instructress, and aid us in our endeavors to de- 
velop all that is good. Willie, at her age, was hard to manage; 
but under Nelson's instructions he is developing into all that I 
would have him to be. He and Amanda resemble each other 
very much." 

Mrs. Euford replied : "Our lot in life, William, has been so 
happy that we would be the most ungrateful of creatures if we 
were not full of gratitude to the great Giver of all good, and we 
would deserve the heaviest punishment if we did not do all in our 
power to train our dear children to all that is good. This lady 
comes to us with the highest recommendations, and I shall make 
it my business to closely observe her mode of instruction and the 
principles she may instill into the children. The teacher has a 
very great influence in molding the character of pupils, and I can 
never be sufficiently grateful to Mr. Nelson for his education of 
Willie. He says he loves him as his own son, and regards him as 
it is said Reuchlin did Melancthon." 

When it commenced snowing Mrs. Buford began to feel 
uneasy about her son. Accordingly, the negro coachman was 



called and ordered to take a strong horse and go to meet him. 
But, as he was preparing to leave, the carriage was seen rapidly 
approaching. On seeing Willie alone, all were very much disap- 
pointed, fearing the teacher had failed to meet him. They were> 
however, somewhat reassured when Void she was so near, but not 
entirely reconciled to their disappointment in not meeting their 
new teacher. That lady, however, was in very comfortable 
quarters, and was enjoying an early opportunity of seeing some- 
thing of the manners and customs of the middle class of Vir- 
ginians. 

She found these people very kind and unaffected in manner, 
and quite refined. She found Mrs. Campbell and her oldest 
daughter to be thorough business women, doing an amount of 
work in weaving, spinning, and sewing astonishing to her. 
Tizzie was very handsome and the pet of the house, and it was 
determined to give her a fine education. The Virginians of this 
period were very solicitous about educating their children, and 
Mrs. Campbell regretted very much the fact of not having been 
able to educate her elder children more highly. She said, now 
that James had the prospects for a good business, she hoped to 
give Lizzie as good advantages as the country afforded. James 
had only a common school education, but had improved himself 
considerably by reading, and was quite an intelligent conversa- 
tionalist. He told Miss Heath he hoped to continue their ac 
quaintance, as he had been employed by Judge Buford for the 
next year as an overseer of his hands. This astonished Miss 
Heath, as she had only thought ot an overseer as a very rough, 
illiterate man. 

CHAPTER III. 

The next morning the snow lay six inches deep on the 
ground, and it was clear and cold, so Willie had his sleigh— a 
scarce article in that country — hitched up, and proceeded to Mrs. 
Campbell's. He found Miss Heath pleased with her new friends, 



bat anxious to reach her destination. When alone with Willie 
she expressed her surprise that so nice a gentleman as James 
Campbell had consented to act as overseer, the next year, for his 
father. From him she learned that Judge Buford was very glad 
to secure young Campbell's services, at a thousand dollars a year, 
knowing him to be an excellent farmer. Mr. Campbell's father, 
rather a reckless man and somewhat addicted to drink, ten years 
ago had been killed by a fall from his horse in a fox-hunt. He 
was, at the time,, considerably In debt, so all his slaves were sold 
except Hannibal and his wife, with a family of young children, 
none as old as James, who was then fifteen. Since then James 
and Hannibal had cultivated the two hundred acres of land with 
great success, raising the highest-priced tobacco in the county. 
Now it was thought that the management of the plantation might 
be sately entrusted to Hannibal, who had four sons grown, or 
nearly so, and James had yielded to the temptation of the large 
salary offered. Hannibal was thoroughly trustworthy, very in- 
dustrious, a good manager, and would see that his sons worked 
faithfully. Mrs. Campbell was not at all afraid to remain at home, 
the negro cabin being near the house, and all the men never away 
at night. I may here state that slaves of the small planters and 
farmers of the South were in better condition, as to physical 
wants, than probably any peasantry in the world. They ate the 
same food as their masters, and were furnished coarse, comfort- 
able clothing. Their tasks were not excessive, and they were 
given time to make little crops of tobacco or cotton for them- 
selves; and some shifty ones would make fifty or even a hundred 
dollars a year for themselves. They were usually treated with 
great kindness, and there were many who were unhesitatingly 
trusted by their masters to protect their families and interests. 
The sons of the family labored in the fields with the negro boys, 
and played with them at times of leisure. On the other side of 
the question, it must be stated that when debts came, the sheriff 
respected no family tie. When the hammer of the auctioneer 
fell the highest bidder took his man. 



— 13 — 

On their arrival, Miss Heath was welcomed with that courtly 
politeness peculiar to the Southern gentleman, and she was much 
pleased with the kind, easy, and unaffected address of Mrs. 
Buford. Letitia was awkward and shy. but very respectful. 
Amanda ran to her, and told her she intended to be a good girl 
and obey her, so that she would love her. Miss Heath, having 
such a pleasant and friendly address, soon put all parties at their 
ease. She was escorted to her room by an elderly colored woman 
of dignified manners, but, as she soon found out, very fond of 
gossip. This being Sunday, all prepared to spend it quietly, as 
there was no preaching near. It was determined not to com- 
mence school until the first of January, which was two weeks off. 
Judge Buford departed early Monday morning to take his seat on 
the bench in an adjoining county. Willie mounted his horse to 
attend school, which would continue a week before the Christmas 
holidays. After riding about a mile and a half, he stopped in 
front of a log house with rather dilapidated surroundings, and 
called for Tom Jones. The youth named soon came out, carry- 
ing on his arm a small basket containing his dinner. He was 
about Willie's age, but much smaller. His face was freckled, his 
hair sandy in color, and his countenance broad and open in ex- 
pression. He was dressed in coarse, homespun clothes, with 
heavy brogan shoes, and his hat was bad. It was Willie's cus- 
tom to call and take him to school behind him Although their 
circumstmces were so different, these boys were fast friends, 
often fishing and hunting together when not at school. Tom's 
father owned a small piece of land inherited from his father 
which his wife would never consent to sell, and could have done 
very well except for his drinking habits. 

Tom remarked on mounting behind, "Well, Willie, how do 
you like the new teacher at your house?" 

"Splendid," replied Willie. "She is the smartest woman I 
ever saw, she just knows everything." 

"Is she pretty ?" 

"Not exactly, but she is so pleasant ; if you are with her, 



— 14 — 

you soon think so. You must come over Christmas and see her." 

Tom said he had no clothes fit to wear. 

"O, never mind that,'' said Willie, "she is none of the stuck- 
up sort, and won't mind what you wear." 

The boys soon arrived at the residence of Mr. Peter Nelson, 
the teacher. The school-house, a single framed room, was near 
the dwelling. This was a two-story, unpainted frame, surrounded 
by an unpainted plank fence, having rather a bleak appearance, 
as there were but few shade trees. Mr. Nelson had been a teacher 
from early manhood, and was a poor man, owning a small tract of 
land, and a single family of negroes. He had married, late in life, 
a pretty little woman with a limited education, who cared noth- 
ing for books. He had now three children, his oldest, Lydia, 
being fifteen. He was a man of pure and noble character, im- 
bued with a passionate fondness for the ancient classics, and was 
withal a religious man. He tried to instill into his pupils an ad- 
miration for all that was grand and admirable in the characters 
of Greeks and Romans and a reverance for the Holy Scriptures; 
and he taught them to despise all that was mean, little and false. 
He had quite a number of Latin and Greek books, and was par- 
ticularly partial to Horace and Ovid, and Euripides and Anac- 
rean. He was of opinion that Ovid was familiar with the Old 
Testament Scriptures. Whilst so fond of the ancients, he was 
not less so of the English classics. For recreation he was very 
fond of chess, and would spend hours engaged in the game with 
Dr. Stoval, a former pupil in days long passed. He was tall, thin 
and ungainly in person, with large nose, thin face, and long arms 
and hands, and was by no means a handsome man. His 
school was of a class unknown out of the Southern 
States, and now nowhere to be seen. It was composed 
of both sexes and of all ages from eight to twenty, and all branches 
were taught from the Primer to the Greek classics, and from the 
enumeration table to the calculus. When the school was large, 
he would employ an assistant, and when small, would conduct 
it himself. He always kept near him a long, slender hickory rod 



— 15 — 

which he did not spare if occasion required. Willie was now his 
best scholar and a favorite whom he was accustomed to call his 
Melancthon. He could read and write Latin with facility; was 
well up in Greek, and had made some progress in reading French. 
Next to him and in the same class was Lydia Nelson, a plain but 
intellectual girl, not less partial to him than her father, so much 
so, indeed, that an observer might fear that her future happi- 
ness might be thereby imperiled. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Miss Heath was taken quite ill a few days after her arrival, 
and Dr. Stoval was called in. At his second visit after making a 
prescription, he told her his attention would be no longer re- 
quired ; and on her tendering his fee, he would take nothing, re- 
marking, "My dear young lady, I have been a teacher myself, 
and have made it a rule, never to charge teachers." He went on, 
"If my services are required, have no hesitation in sending for 
me, as it will be my pleasure to render you any service in my 
power. I have been prospered in life, and now practice as much 
for the pleasure I have in my profession as for the profit. It has 
been the business of my life, and I could not now be contented 
without practicing." He invited her to come soon and pay him 
a visit, when they would have a long talk. He said Willie would 
probably like to come some Saturday, and take a hunt with his 
son John, and would gladly bring her. While Miss Heath was 
sick, Grace, Mrs. Buford's waiting- maid, took advantage of her 
position as nurse, to give her a history of the family. On her re- 
marking on how well the servants were treated, she replied, "Yes, 
Mars William and Miss Julia are mighty good folks, but it wan't 
always so here. Ole Master was mighty wild man. He used to 
drink and play cards and horse-race and bring lots of men here. 
And they would get up before day and <ox hunt and set up at 
night and play cards. Lige Jones, the father of this here Tom 
Jones, was overseer, and he would cut and slash and drive and 



— i6 — 

have the folks up before day and out after night. Ole Master 
told him he wanted him to make big crops. He wanted a heap 
of money to spend on his card-playing and horse-racing. Ole 
Miss was quiet and good and belonged to the 'Piscopals, and she 
did not like the carryings on. but she did not say nothing. Well, 
after Miss Nora done marry Col. Preston over the mountains, she 
mighty grand lady now, and Mars William was most grown, the 
Baptist preacher, Mr. Jerry Jeter, and Jesse Witt, come and hold 
a big nieetin'. They was powerful preachers, and ole Mr. Harris, 
he preached to the black folks, and Mars Jimmy Leftwich sung 
for them. He was son of old Parson Leftwich, that used to keep 
tavern on the Lynchburg road, and folks said, loved the apple 
brandy too good that he stilled himself to sell to travelers, but 
Mars Jimmy was a powerful temperance man and a mighty fine 
singer. Ole master concluded he would go and hear them preach, 
and he told overseer to go 'long with the black folks, at night, 
and not to let them git into any devilment. Ole Master, he got 
mighty serious, and he fotch Mr. Jeter home with him, and they 
set and talked most all night; and he jined the chinch, and Ole 
Miss cried mightily and she jined the church, and Mars William 
too; and they had a great baptizing, poor and rich, black and 
white. And Ole Master was that changed, he stopped making 
the folks work at night and git up before day, and he built them 
good cabins, and had them all white-washed, and he told the over- 
seer to make folks mind and do guod work, but not whip them, 
if he could help it. When Miss Nora heard of it, she said she was 
glad her Pa had quit drinkin' and gamblin', but she thought he 
might have done better than join the Baptists, and the idea of 
her mother, that was an Eppes, one of the first families in the 
low country, jinin' them, was simply ridiculous; and as for Wil- 
liam, from a boy, he never had any family pride, and she warn't 
astonished at him. When Mars William brought home Miss Ju- 
lia, thai was a Watkins from Petersburg, the ole folks was mighty 
pleased. Ole Master has been dead about ten years, and Ole Mis 
died year before last, and they was both happy and resigned." 



— 17 — 

When Christmas morning came, Miss Heath was awakened 
by the noise of shouting and laughing. Several of the colored 
girls came unceremoniously into her room claiming a Christmas 
gift, and the little girls followed, wishing her a happy Christmas. 
The negroes were turned loose for a week of feasting and enjoy- 
ment. The Judge, though a strict church member, would not 
forbid such as were so disposed, to have a dance, though some of 
the older and more zealous of the negroes frequently groaned and 
shook their heads, and told the young people they had Letter be 
praying. 

Willie, accompanied by his sisters and the teacher, went into 
the dancing room to witness the exhibition. There were at least 
twenty couple on the floor, some being from neighboring planta- 
tions. They entered into the sport with an abandon not seen 
among other people. Some, especially the girls, were very grace- 
ful in their movements. The fiddler seemed to be at the height 
of felicity as he swayed his bod} 7 backwards and forwards, vigor- 
ously patting his foot, and prompting in a pompous manner. 

The Christmas holidays passed very quietly, the family mak- 
ing no visits, but they invited a few friends, one day to dinner, 
among them Dr. St^val nnd Mr. Nelson, with their wives. Wil- 
lie spent his time w ta several bo>s ot the neighborhood, hunt- 
ing hares and quail called partridges in the Southern States.] 

CHAPTER V. 

On the ist of January, Miss Heath commenced her school. 
She found that he pupils had been taught carelessly, and she 
commenced at once to remedy the evil by insisting on their ac- 
quiring a thorough acquaintance with all their studies, and giv- 
ing their protracted and undivided attention during school hours. 
They were all bright pupils, but she soon found that Lizzie Camp- 
bell exceeded the others in aptitude, especially in music, for 
which she had a remarkable talent. James Campbell, at the 
same time, took charge of the plantation, occupying with Willie 



— iS- 

a cottage in the yard, and taking - his meals with the family. He 
was continually on horseback, when not at his meals. He was 
systematic and thorough in his management, the hands arising 
and going to their tasks at the tap of the bell. He divided his 
forty hands into three bands, each under the direction of a fore- 
man, one of these called a head foreman having general super- 
vision over all, and receiving orders direct from the overseer. 
These foremen were not allowed to punish grown persons, but 
reported misdemeanors to the overseer, when committed, and 
could punish children without reporting. The overseer had the 
use of a horse which he rode or kept near him at all times. The 
negroes were generally obedient and cheerful at their work. 
There was, however, one exception, Sam, a son of the cook, a 
gigantic young fellow, soon showed a disposition to try the new 
overseer. This was frequently done by slaves. If the overseer 
was a man of firmness and succeeded in conquering his man, he 
generally had but little trouble thereafter ; but if he showed timid- 
ity and vacillation, he was ever after inefficient, and had fre- 
quently to give up his place. One Saturday morning while the 
negroes were busy finishing the burning of a plant bed, Sam, 
though the strongest man among them, moved very slowly, with 
his coat on and buttoned up. After standing this conduct some 
time, James Campbell said : "Sam, you are not trying to do any- 
thing ; if you do not move up you will have to be punished." On 
this, Sam stepped forward and replied, "Who will punish me; if 
you think to run over me, you will find yourself disappointed." 
Then drawing a long keen knife from a back pocket, made a step 
towards the overseer. Quick as thought, Campbell drew a re- 
volver, and pointing it, told Sam not to move a step, or he would 
kill him. This stopped him, but he held on to his drawn knife, 
and swore he would not be taken. The overseer did not wish to 
him, and saw that it would be very dangerous to approach 
him, and that he would defend himself desperately if he ordered 
the other negroes to take him. Just then, Willie, who was bird- 
hunting, rode up, and hearing what was going on, wanted to fill 



Sam with bird shot. But Campbell requested him to go and 
bring his father, who was then at home. 

On the arrival of the Judge, Sam still refused to surrender. 
The other negroes were then called on to take him. He kept 
them all at bay for some time, when the Judge rode up and gave 
him a blow on the head with his cane, and at the same time, old 
Jim, the foreman, seized him from behind, and the rest precipi- 
tated themselves upon him and disarmed him. He was now sent 
under guard to be locked up, the Judge declaring he should be 
sent to the coal mines. However, by the entreaties of his mother, 
he was so far moved, as to agree that if the overseer would con- 
sent, he would let him remain, after receiving a good strapping, 
This was accordingly administered, and C; nipbell had no further 
trouble with him. 

At the Baptist Church, where the family of Judge Buford 
held their membership, there was preaching twice a month. The 
preacher, Mr. Creath, was unlearned, but a man of great zeal and 
piety. The white people occupied the lower floor, and there was 
a gallery above, set apart for the negroes. These were disposed 
to be very demonstrative in their worship, and considerable lati- 
tude was allowed them. After services, Miss Heath was aston- 
ished to see the whole crowd shaking hands, uttering pious ejac- 
ulations and exhorting one another. This would have been car- 
ried to great excess, if they had not known there was a point 
beyond which they would not be allowed to go. 

It is a remarkable fact, in the history of the Southern States 
where slavery existed for more than two hundred years, there was 
never but one servile insurrection. This was led by one Nat 
Turner, a fanatical preacher and a man of some education. After 
this insurrection, and after the great anti-slavery demonstration 
at the North had commenced, Virginia passed a law prohibiting 
slaves to be taught to read. This was frequently evaded, and on 
most large plantations, there were a few who could read. Assem- 
blies of slaves, for worship, was unlawful without the presence of 
white persons. Judge Buford, however, allowed his negroes, on 



20 

his own place, to meet for the purpose of having the Bible read 
and expounded by one of their number, on condition of dispers- 
ing at a reasonable hour. 

CHAPTER VI. 

In the month of February, Miss Heath determined to pay 
her promised visit to Dr. Stoval. The morning selected was cold 
and clear. Willie drove her in a strong one-horse spring wagon. 
During this trip they had an opportunity to become better ac- 
quainted. Since her arrival, both had been so busy as not to see 
much of each other. On his inquiring how she was pleased with 
the country, she replied, she could not yet tell, but that she par- 
ticularly noticed the isolation of the people ; and she might al- 
most say the loncsomeness of the country. He told her this was 
true of the winter season, but that when spring came, this would 
be much relieved, as she might ride on horseback, or go fishing, 
whenever she chose, that there were some pleasant gentlemen and 
ladies in the neighborhood who would join in these amusements. 
He also spoke of picnics and open-air dances, saying he cared 
very little for them, but they were better than nothing. He car- 
ried with him a double-barreled shot-gun, and a fine pointer ran 
behind, as he expected to take a hunt with John Stoval. On 
their way the} 7 passed Tom Jones, who was hauling wood on a 
rather dilapidated wagon, Tom having to work on Saturdays in 
order to be spared for school on the other days of the week. The 
road ran through a good deal of forest and some fields grown up 
in old field pines. They saw some good looking farm houses and 
some shabby looking cabins occupied by poor white people. 

The Doctor's house was quite different from those of his 
neighbors, which were built in the plain old-fashioned style. It 
was a frame, painted a lead color, and built according to modern 
fashion The rooms were more numerous and smaller than was 
customary in the country, and it had all the modern improve- 
ments conducive to comfort. The kitchen was under the same 



— 21 — 

roof as his other rooms, as was also the well. He did not like to 
hold and be bothered with slaves, and owned only two girls to do 
his housework, being almost competed to do so from his sur- 
roundings. He hired a free negro, living near, to cultivate his 
garden and a crop of corn and hay for his stock, consisting of a 
few horses, cows and hogs, and to drive his carriage. His family 
consisted of his wife, a daughter, now off at school, his son John, 
a boy of fifteen, and three younger children. His wife was a 
plain, illiterate woman, from a poor family, as was the Doctor 
himself. She was very amiable, and retained undiminished the 
affection he had for her since their early youth. 

On their arrival, Miss Heath and Willie were welcomed with 
great cordiality, and were ushered into an elegant parlor warmed 
by the first coal fire Miss Heath had seen since her arrival in the 
country. Punctually at twelve dinner was served, and immedi- 
ately after dinner the boys left for their hunt. 

During the afternoon, the Doctor gave a history of his life to 
Miss Heath. He commenced by observing, "I was born and 
reared in a log cabin about twenty miled from here, but my life 
has not been a hard one ; on the contrary, I have been very suc- 
cessful. I have been a lover of my profession and a student from 
boyhood. I have never neglected it, and I have been repaid for 
all my attention, by pecuniary success and by the pleasure of ben- 
efitting my fellow creatures. My father, who is yet living with 
my sister in an adjoining county, was an irregular practioner, 
called by the people, a root and herb doctor. I was never com- 
pelled to labor hard, as my father's practice enabled him to sup- 
port his family in the plain style in which w 7 e lived. We owned 
no slaves, and our household work was done by my mother and 
sisters. The children went to school, whenever one was near 
enough for us to walk to it, which was not always the case. I 
have read a great deal by the light of pine knots, as we did not 
feel able to indulge in candles, and there was no coal-oil then 
used. I cannot see any hardship in that, as these pine knots 
make an excellent light My ambition, when a boy, was to be- 



come a great physician. By the time I was eighteen, I knew the 
contents of my father's few books, and was pretty well acquainted 
with his method of practice. At that age I commenced teaching 
school, some distance from home, near a physician, who lent me 
his books and directed my studies. In three years, I had made 
nearly enough money to attend a course of medical lectures. Mr. 
Hairston, a wealthy gentleman, who took an interest in me, came 
and said, "John, my son Peter is going to the University of Vir- 
ginia this autumn, suppose you go with him and take a course of 
medical lectures?" On my telling him I did not have enough 
money, he replied, "Go, and I will lend you what you need." In 
the course of nine months, I graduated, this institution requir- 
ing no term of study, but only ability to stand a very strict ex- 
amination. On ni)' return home, I at once obtained a good prac- 
tice, Mr. Hairston giving me his which was very profitable, as 
he owned a great many negroes. In the summer following, there 
was a great deal of malarial fever, and I was very successfnl in 
treating it, chiefly owing to the boldness with which I gave qui- 
nine, then a new practice. In a few years, I was able to spend 
nearly a year in New York, attending lectures and the great hos- 
pitals. On my return, feeling my position to be assured, I asked 
Mary, to whom I had long been attached, to become my wife. 
Since then, I think I have enjoyed as much happiness as usually 
falls to the lot of man." 

Miss Heath informed the Doctor that her father, a Congre- 
gational minister, had been dead some years, leaving but little 
property, having spent most of his means in educating his chil- 
dren. Her mother was still living with a married sister, and a 
brother, younger than herself, had gone to Illinois to practice 
law In their conversation about Virginia, she said she was 
much impressed by the plainness of the people, which she had 
not expected to see. She had not observed those pretentions to 
aristocracy with which the slaveholders were credited in the 
North. Also she observed that the marriage relation was held to 
be more sacred than in her State, and divorces seemed to be more 



uncommon. The Doctor informed her that there was but little 
assumption of superiority on account of wealth or birth, in this 
part of the State, but that it was different in some sections, es- 
pecially east and north of Richmond, where many prided them- 
selves on descent from the old colonial families, and the wealth} 7 
generally were quite pretentious. "Many Virginians," he re- 
marked, "especially when removed to other States, made them- 
selves ridiculous by boasting of the superiority of their State and 
of their own families in particular." Taken altogether, he pre- 
ferred this, the Southern Piedmont region, to any section of the 
State. Here there was but little poverty, and but few with very 
large fortunes, and the people were generally religious, and there 
was a good deal of intelligence, but still they were greatly in need 
of better educational facilities. The conversation turning upon 
slavery he le marked that he never took an active part in politics, 
but read a great deal and was a close observer of events, and on 
that account was probably better able to predict the future than 
those whose passions were excited by political contests. He was 
of opinion that we were nearing a great catastrophe. He thought 
the Republicans would come into power in a few years, though 
not in the next Presidential contest. Then the Southern States, 
including Virginia, would secede. Maryland, Kentucky and Mis- 
souri would remain in the Union. He believed a war would re- 
sult which would only end with the freeing of the slaves and the 
subjugation of the South. There was no braver people than the 
people of the Southern States, nor could they be excelled in the 
qualities that make efficient soldiers, but the odds against them 
was too gre.:t. Their opponents were more than three times as 
numerous and held the navy, which would cut them off from 
foreign supplies, and the prestige of being the old and estab- 
lished Government would give the North an incalculable advan 
tage in borrowing money. Added to this, the South could not 
hope for foreign aid, as the sentiment of the civilized world was 
opposed to slavery. He could recall scarely an instance of a por- 
tion of a country achieving independence without foreign aid. 



— 24 — 

The United States could never have become independent without 
the aid of France and Spain, and the Netherlands could not have 
become independent without the aid of France and England. 
He and Judge Buford had frequently talked of these things, and 
agreed in sentiment. The Judge was a very conservative man 
and opposed to entertaining the idea of secession under any con- 
ceivable circumstances, and Major Jubal Early, formerly of the 
United States Army, who sometimes visited him, was much of 
the same opinion. But such men were largely in the minority. 
He would venture to predict that in case of war, Willie would 
distinguish himself on the part of the South, and his own boy 
would espouse the same cause. For his own part, though averse 
to managing slaves, he was not an abolitionist, nor even an eman- 
cipationist. As a physician he had studied the mental character- 
istics of negroes, and could see nothing but evil to the whites in 
having them free amongst them, and no good to the negroes. 
Judge Buford, who was a very prudent man, some months prev- 
ious, had visited his old friend, Cyrus McCormick, the inventor 
of the reaping machine, and a native of Rockbridge County, Va., 
and made considerable investments in Chicago. The Doctor had 
not a dollar outside the State, and had determined to share the 
lot of his people, for good or for evil. In closing the conversa- 
tion, he remarked, "But we must not cross the bridge before we 
get to it, these things may never happen, and a man can only do 
his duty as events transpire." 

Miss Heath was much pleased with her visit. She gradually 
formed the acquaintance of other agreeable people, and the sense 
of lonesomeness which she had at first experienced was greatly 
diminished. Her friendship for Willie increased, and a lasting 
attachment sprung up between them. She began to entertain a 
high respect for James Campbell, although their respective duties 
were such that they were not thrown very much together, and 
he, charmed by her intelligence and affability, began to have a 
high regard for her and to seek her company whenever an oppor- 
tunity offered. She was the most intelligent lady he had ever 



— ^5 — 

met. Although she was dignified, she was unaffected, open and 
cheerful. When some thoughts of falling in love with her aro e 
in his mind, he banished them, from the fear that from his want 
of education and culture he might be unacceptable to her, not 
having learned that the most highly educated women frequently 
give their affections to men much inferior to themselves in this 
respect Miss Heath, from her own observation and her conver- 
sation with Dr. Stovall, began to feel that change in opinion with 
regard to negro slavery that is so common with Northern people 
when they come to reside in the South, ic being a noticeable fact 
that those who are best acquainted with negroes, and reside 
where they are most numerous, as a rule, are the strongest advo _ 
cates, or apologists for the institution of slavery. 

CHAPTER VII. 

During the winter and spring, Willie applied himself dili- 
gently to his studies and made rapid progress,. Late in May he 
was invited by Alfred Williams, a schoolmate, about eighteen 
years old, who resided about five miles from his father's, to go 
home with him on Friday evening, and join some friends in fish- 
ing on Saturday. 

Late in the afternoon they approached the residence of Mr. 
Alfred Williams, Sr. The house was a plain two-story frame, 
without paint or whitewash. In the yard, grown up in weeds, 
were a number of Lombardy poplars, with branches pointing up- 
wards, affording no shade. This tree once so popular in the 
Southeast can now scarcely be seen anywhere. The fence around 
the yard was of unwhitewashed plank and rather dilapidated in 
appearance. Some distance from the main building was a log 
room with a wide brick chimney, which was the kitchen, in 
which the cooking was done in a wide, open fire-place. A little 
farther off were three log cabins, with stick and mud chimneys, 
in which the negroes lodged. 

The boys rode into the horse lot, an inclosure of about two 



— 26 — 

acres, traversed by gullies and grown up in rank weeds. The 
stables and corn-crib were erected with some care, and were the 
best looking buildings about the place. Just then four boys came 
riding up on bare-back horses having their plow gear on, return- 
ing from their day's plowing. They were two white and two 
colored, the white boys being Alfred's brothers, lads of sixteen 
and fourteen years old. The boys of slaveholders of moderate 
means were crained to work, and even the sons of the affluent 
labored sufficiently to learn how work ought to be done. The 
young men of Virginia were not Ihe worthless, idle fellows many 
in other States supposed them to be. They were manly and in- 
dependent, and after the war went to work with a good will, and 
contributed, by manual labor, to the prosperity of their own and 
many other States. 

In the distance might be seen the rest of Mr. Williams' force 
consisting of three men and two women, walking up, with hoes 
on their shoulders. Before going into the house, they met Mr. 
Williams, who came out to attend to the feeding of his stock. 
He gave Willie a very cordial greeting, and said he hoped they 
would have a clear day and fine sport to-morrow. 

He was a tall, thin man, with stooping shoulders, about fifty 
years old. His dress consisted of a cotton shirt worn since the 
last Sunday, cotton pantaloons dyed at home, held up by a pair 
of home-knit yarn suspenders, a pair of rusty old shoes, a shock- 
ingly bad hat, and nothing more, — but his countenance was pleas- 
ant and intelligent, and his manners gentlemanly. 

Willie was ushered into the best room, where he was intro- 
duced to Mrs. Williams, a large fine looking lady, dressed in a 
plain calico gown, and to Miss Euphemia, who, expecting his 
coming, had taken some pains to make a neat appearance. Miss 
Euphemia had some pretentions to beauty, and being very fond 
of the society of gentlemen, who were quite scarce in her neigh- 
borhood, thought it worth while to try and make a favorable im- 
pression upon a wealthy, well-grown young gentleman of sixteen- 
They were soon invited to supper, which was a very good one, 



as Mrs. Williams and Esther, her colored cook, were famous 
cooks and Miss Euphemia was celebrated for her skill in making 
cakes and preserves. 

Alter supper they all took seats on the porch, where Mrs. 
Williams could enjoy her pipe and Mr. Williams his quid. They 
and the younger children soon retired, it being then the custom 
with farmers to go to bed very early and rise with the first ap- 
pearance of dawn. The parlor was thus left to Alfred, Willie 
and Miss Williams. She played some lively tunes on the piano, 
which was sadly out of tune, they living so remote from cities 
that a tuner seldom came around, but when one made his appear- 
ance he was welcomed with as much pleasure as the repairer of 
clocks. Miss Williams, after playing, inquired about Mr. Camp, 
bell, who formerly frequently visited them, but had not done so 
for several months. She wondered if he was not so taken with 
the Yankee school-marm as to neglect the society of other ladies. 
Willie replied that he did not know as to that, but that Mr. 
Campbell's business was so engrossing tnat he had but little leis- 
ure for society, and that Miss Heath was so busy with her pupils 
that there was little opportunity for her to receive the attentions 
of gentlemen. He said she was a great favorite of his and he 
might become a formidable rival to any gentleman who might 
fall in love with her. At this, Miss Williams laughed and said 
she did not believe he could be caught by a lady as old as the 
teacher, but she would not vouch that he did not tall in love with 
little Lizzie Campbell, the prettiest and sweetest girl she knew. 
At this, Willie blushed and abruptly turned the conversation. 
Miss Williams had sufficient ta< t not to prolong the subject, so 
after a short time spent in conversation in which she showed her- 
self to be quite intelligent and well educated, they all retired, an- 
ticipating a pleasant time on the morrow. 

One might suppose, from the appearance of things around 
his house, that Mr. Williams was a poor farmer and a shiftless 
man, but such was not the case. The hard, stern duties of life 
had pressed upon him from his youth and left him no leisure to 



— 28 — 

cultivate taste. He had no talent for fixing up things nice around 
him, and being principally engaged in raising tobacco, a very ex- 
acting crop, he had little time to attend to anything else. He was 
a fine tobacco grower and a good cultivator of crops generally. 
After spending a considerable amount in the education of his 
daughter, he proposed to send Alfred to college and make a law- 
yer of him. His other boys cared nothing for books, and would 
follow the occupation of their father. 

The next morning it was arranged that Alfred and his sister 
and Willie should walk to the fishing place on Staunton River, 
the smaller boys going in another direction with their guns to 
try and kill some squirrels, and Mr. Williams was to come later 
with one of his negro men, in a wagon, to brin? bread, cakes, 
preserves and pickles. The negro man, assisted by a couple of 
boys, was to cook the dinner and wait on the company. The fish 
and squirrels were to be cooked in a nice shade near the river 
bank. In going to the river their way was through a field where 
the negroes were at work. They overtook a woman and a boy 
carrying them their breakiast. This was carried in a wooden 
tray on the head of the woman. It consisted of large corn cakes 
baked in the ashes, a slice of bacon for every hand, and some 
potatoes roasted in the ashes. The boy carried a jug of butter- 
milk. This was the ordinary fare of the field hands which was 
not so good late in the spring and early in the summer as at other 
times, on account of the scarcity of vegetables. The corn bread 
was sometimes substituted for bread made of unbolted wheaten 
flour. On this diet they kept strong and healthy, and a case of 
dyspepsia was unknown among them. It must not be supposed 
that the hegroes'never indulged in luxuries. In the long autumn 
nights they were accustomed to catch a large number of raccoons 
and 'possums, almost every nian having a dog trained to hunting 
these animals, and in the winter they could catch as many hares 

as they wanted. 

^Several young people of the neighborhood joined the little 

jar'ty and they had a splendid time fishing. They caught quite 



— 29 — 

a number of the celebrated round fish, besides perch of different 
varieties. The boys came up finally with quite a number of 
squirrels, whicti made a fine addition to the feast. To Miss Eu- 
phemia's regret, Mr. Denton, the young merchant at the cross- 
roads, was not present, Saturday being a busy day with him. 
After a very pleasant day, Willie, his horse having been brought 
to him in the afternoon by a bov, took his leave, inviting Alfred 
to visit him soon and join in a fox hunt, and Miss Euphemia to 
come and see his sisters and the new teacher. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Some weeks after Willie's visit to the Williams family, Judge 
Buford's neighbors gave a grand barbecue and picnic. A beauti- 
ful grove was selected. Plank was laid down for a dancing floor, 
with a platform for the musicians, and a large number of boards 
were laid down on logs for seating the crowd. For cooking the 
meats, a long trench was dug, in which a fire of seasoned wood 
was made, and whole sheep and shoats were placed over the fire 
by means of sticks run through them. Men were epmloyed for 
hours to attend to the cooking and turning the meat, and in bast- 
ing with pepper, vinegar and salt. Meat prepared in this way is 
very delicious. The feast when prepared consisted of these meats 
with bread, pickle and tomatoes, together with rakes, pies and 
jellies. All were free to partake, and people assembled from 
quite distant places. It was understood that there was to be 
dancing, and although the amusement was not approved of by 
many of the older persons, and the churches condemned, yet it 
began to be tolerated. 

Willie, though unused to dancing, joined in the amusement, 
and with Lizzie Campbell for his partner, attracted a good deal 
of attention, and it was conceded that they were the handsomest 
couple in the county. Miss Heath was present, and although 
she did not join in the dance, enjoyed the scene as something new 
to her. She made the acquaintance of a number of agreeable 



ladies and gentlemen, who took pleasure in showing attention to 
a stranger. 

At such gatherings social distinction were abolished, and all 
classes were represented in the spectators and dancers. At this 
time Buchanan and Fremont were candidates for the Presidency, 
and there was considerable interest manifested in the political 
aspect. Fremont had no supporters in this section of the conn- 
try, but many were alarmed at the fact that there was a candidate 
in the field running'on a distinctly sectional issue, and supported 
by a large and growing party. Although none believed that Fre- 
mont would be elected, yet many were alarmed at the rapid in- 
crease of the Republican party, and were fearful of trouble in the 
near future. Whilst the young were engaged in their festivities, 
the older men formed groups and anxiously discussed the politi- 
cal issues of the day, The people ol Virginia were excelled by 
none in patriotism. These simple country people were devotedly 
attached to the Union. They had not the least desire that their 
section should have more than its legitimate influence in the 
councils of the nation; no ambition, no dreams of a great slave 
power dominating the nation. All they desired was to be unin- 
terrupted in their constitutional rights, as one of a great family 
of States. Such wa-; the sentiment of the great mass of the peo- 
ple of the oth^r Southern States. Those who thought otherwise 
did not know the people, and were misled by the utterances of a 
few representing nobody. But they were very tenacious of all 
their rights and ever ready to repel aggression. 

Willie Buford at this time was too young to pay much atten- 
tion to politics, but he had been brought up among these people, 
and his principles were those of the people around him. His 
father was a very conservative man, but his teacher, Mr. Nelson, 
belonged to that school of politicians formerly represented by 
such men as John C. Calhoun and John Randolph, and at that 
time by a large number of prominent men, among whom may be 
named John C. Breckenridge, the then candidate for Vice-Presi- 
dent, Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens, and he would fre- 



-3 1 — 

quently express his opinions in the hearing of his pupils. It 
remained to be seen how far his opinions would be modified at 
Harvard, where his father intended to send him the following 
autumn. 

After a pleasant day all dispersed, late in the afternoon, to 
their homes and usual avocations. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Some weeks after the events recorded in the last chapter, 
there was a meeting of the Baptist Association at the church 
near Judge Buford's. This was the old "Strawberry Association," 
organized in 1776, and widely known by the denomination, hav- 
ing produced many of its most talented ministers. The delegates 
came from several counties, mostly on horseback. Among them 
were wealthy planters and merchants and laboring farmers dressed 
in home spun jeans. These last were frequently among the best 
informed as to doctrine and church polity. Among the ministers 
present, some were from the cities, and somt even from other 
States, whilst some were plain, unlettered men, serving four coun- 
try churches at a salary of about one hundred dollars to the 
church Among the Baptists, an association has no ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction, each church being an absolutely independent body. 
The object of these meetings is to stir the churches up to co- 
operation, and to devise means for raising money for missions, 
home and foreign, and to promote the interests of denominational 
schools and colleges, also to encourage the establishment of Sun- 
day Schools. 

For the accommodation of the delegates and of all strangers 
present, the houses of the neighbors were thrown open, and 
bountiful provision made for men and horses. The business being 
transacted in the house, seats were prepared under the shade of 
the trees, where the crowd was addressed by some of the preachers 
present. 

In an .address to the association, Mr. Sears, of Kentucky, 



— 32 — 

was very earnest in urging upon them the duty of making better 
provision for the spiritual wants of the negroes. He showtd 
them the inconsistency of sending missionaries to foreign coun- 
tries, while those under their care at home were neglected. "And, 
brethren," he said, "I am the more free to urge this matter upon 
your attention, as I am not only not an abolitionist, but a perpet 
ualist." Even in this assembly, this statement was heard with 
some astonishment. That evening Mr. Sears was the guest of 
Judge Buford. When, after dinner, the guests and the family 
were assembled in the parlor, the Judge, addressing the minister, 
said, "Brothei Sears, I was raised in Virginia and have been all 
my life among slaveholders, and have been one myself since early 
manhood, yet I do not now remember hearing anyone express 
himself as being a perpetualist." 

Mr. Sears replied, "The question of slavery and the relation 
of the African race to the whites is now the gravest question that 
confronts the American people. A large number of people in the 
Northern States, ignorant of or ignoring the teachings of the 
Bible on the subject, and ignorant of the condition of the slaves 
amongst us, taking their prejudices for truths, are taking every 
means in their power to destroy the institution of slavery. As 
to the lawfulness of holding from a Scriptural standpoint. I have 
no doubt. We read that the Gibeonites were made perpetual 
slaves to the Israelites by Joshua ; and in the Mosaic law, whilst 
it was unlawful to hold an Israelite in perpetual bondage, there 
was no such restriction as to people of other nations ; they were 
expressly permitted to hold them, as slaves, forever. Coming to 
New Testament times: Slavery was then prevalent in the Roman 
Empire, and we hear no word of condemnation from Jesus, or 
any of the Apostles. In the epistles of Paul, advice is given to 
both masters and slaves, and the runaway slave, Onesimus, after 
his conversion, is persuaded to return to his Christian master, 
Philemon. This question being settled, we have now to consider 
slavery as it exists with us, in its political aspect. In the exer- 
cise of our best reason, can we believe that its abolition would 



33 

be conducive to the welfare of the whole people, white and black? 
If so, it should be abolished, otherwise not. Let us first consider 
the condition of the white people in the slave States, as com- 
pared with the condition of the white people of the North I 
have travelled much and can conscientiously say that, in all that 
enobles man, the Southern people are equal to the Northern. 
There is here less poverty and less crime. We have not as much 
great wealth nor as much abject poverty. The wealth of our 
largest slaveholders is insignificant when compared with the 
wealth of the great Northern millionaires, and the condition of 
the poorest inhabitants of the pine woods of the South is happy 
when compared with the condition of the dwellers in the tene- 
ment houses of the great Northern cities. We have as many 
professors of Christianity to the population, and the con duel of 
professors, though not such as is desirable, is as good as that of 
our Northern brethren. As for the slaves, their moral and physi- 
cal condition, to say the least, is equal to that of the free negroes 
of the North If these things be so, why seek a change? But 
there are other things to be considered in reference to this sub. 
ject. The great and radical difference of race between the whites 
and blacks which makes it impossible for them to live together 
on terms of equality (and if they could would degrade the one 
without elevating the other), must be considered. All men have 
equal natural rights, but this does not impair the right of any 
people from forbidding inferior peoples and races to enjoy equal 
privileges with themselves. Women have equal natural rights 
with men, but this does not make it wrong to deny them suf- 
frage, a privilege which would be injurious to themselves and to 
the community. All history shows that the negro is not capable 
of standing alone, as a civilized people, and when admitted in 
large numbers to citizenship among other people, has tended to 
degrade that people. Witness the condition of Africa from the 
most ancient times, and of Hayti, where vodooism and human 
sacrifice and cannibalism still prevails; and witness Mexico and 
the South American States. Other inferior races, besides the ne- 



— 34 — 

groes, have been vastly benefitted by being brought into political 
subordination, though not made slaves, by highly civilized peo- 
ple. It is evident the Hindoos have been much improved by 
British rule. And it may be that the African tribes may be 
Christianized and civilized, when brought under political subor- 
dination, by the English and other European powers that may 
take possession of their country. In opposition to this view of 
the subject, someone may call my attention to the fact that there 
have been negroes endowed with great mental powers. I admit 
there are such exceptions, but they are very few. Some may say 
this is because the race has not had an opportunity to develop its 
capabilities, from being always regarded as inferior. To this I 
would say that we have no record that the negro labored under 
any legal disabilities, among the Egyptians, Greeks or Romans, 
and large numbers of them resided in those countries. In this 
country, there have been free negroes, for one hundred and fifty 
years, with considerable facilities for mental culture, in the 
Northern cities. In Mohammedan coun tries, there are no dis- 
tinctions of race, yet we have never read of a negro becoming a 
great Turkish soldier, visier or ambassador. No negro has writ- 
ten a poem of any value, or any work showing originality, or 
made any valuable mechanical invention. The ability they pos- 
sess consists mostly in memory and imitation. In their ability 
to grasp moral ideas, I consider them more deficient than in men- 
tal power. To give these people equal political privileges with 
ourselves is, I believe, the greatest political crime that could pos- 
sibly be committed. But the emancipationist will say, we do not 
propose to give them political rights, only emancipation from 
personal bondage. To this I reply, this cannot be done. If 
emancipation becomes universal, there will be a constitutional 
amendment giving negroes equal civil -rights. If this were not 
done, evidently their condition would be worse than at present. 
They would be the slaves of the community, without the pro- 
tection of an owner. The whole question of race is the most im- 
ortant one that can now engage the attention of this people. 



—35 — 

Chinese are beginning to come over in considerable numbers, and 
if their immigration is unrestricted, they are sufficiently numer- 
ous to soon become a very dangerous element. I hold that all 
the races of mankind sprang from three primary stocks, the 
white, yellow and black, and that the different varieties of colored 
men in the world originated from a mingling of the yellows and 
blacks with each other, and in some cases with the whites. The 
purest white people are found in Northern and Western Europe, 
and in the United States; the yellow race in its purity is repre- 
sented by the Chinese, and the black by the negroes of Africa. I 
hold that God, in thus forming these people, did not intend them 
to amalgamate. They not only differ in physical formation, but 
in mental calibre. The Chinese have a government and civiliza- 
tion suitable to them, but that would be intolerable to us. The 
negroes have developed scarely any civilization at all. Western 
Europe has been inhabited from remote antiquity by two pure 
white races, branches of the Aryan family. These have blended 
in modern times, and have produced a people superior to any 
other people known in history. We are their descendants, and 
Providence seems to have opened to us a career more glorious 
than ever to any other people, and I hold it would be a great sin 
to admit inferior races to citizenship. Steamships and railroads 
are making the emigration of all persons easy, and we need 
stringent legislation to prevent us from being overwhelmed by 
the immigration of inferior races. In the face of these facts, 
some are so blind as to desire the freeing of the negroes. I be- 
lieve in preaching the gospel to every creature, but in restricting 
the various races to the countries that Providence has assigned 
for their habitation. The growing sentiment in the North and 
the aggessive attitude of a strong party, are now very threaten- 
ing to our institutions. Many anti-slavery men are doubtlessly 
good men and think they are right, but they are profoundly igno- 
rant of all the characteristics of the negro race. Honest error is 
frequently more dangerous than dishonesty. In view of these 



- 3 6- 

things, I fear that, for self-preservation, the South will be com- 
pelled to sever her connection with the other States." 

Here, Judge Buford replied: "Much of what you have said 
is true, and I can heartily endorse it; but as to disunion, I can 
foresee no circumstances that would make it safe or desirable. I 
think the interests of the people of these States are inseperable, 
and that, for weal or for woe, we are indissolubly united, and that 
all our battles for principles should be fought in the union and 
under the broad shield of the constitution." 

Mr. Sears replied : "I will not argue this question now, but I 
foresee that events will soon force it upon our consideration." 

There were two attentive listeners to Mr. Sears who entirely 
agreed with him, Willie Buford and Miss Heath. One might be 
surprised, in the case of the latter, if he was not cognizant of the 
fact that Northern people very frequently change their opinions 
about negro slavery, after even a short residence in the South. 

CHAPTER X. 

The time was now approaching for Willie's departure for 
Harvard, and he looked forward to it with pleasure mixed with 
regret at leaving his family and being so long alone with strangers, 
as no acquaintance was to accompany him. Miss Heath was to 
continue in the family another year, and would not visit her 
mother and sister until Christmas. The Judge conversed much 
with Willie, and gave him much kind and affectionate advice. 
He was very proud of his boy, and although a good Christian, 
had a good deal of human ambition. He looked forward with 
pleasure to the time when he would be prominent in the councils 
of the State and Nation realizing that he was possessed of a su- 
perior mind. He strove to instill into him principles of strict 
integrity and chivalrous honor. He told him that young men 
practiced some vices, under the idea that they were manly, where- 
as they were really low and mean and tended to degradation. He 
told him of his high hopes for him, and of his deep mortification 



— 37 — 

if he should know of his indulging in the least degree in any 
dissipation, and especially never to use any alcoholic stimulant. 
If, however, at any time he should be tempted to stray from the 
paths of rectitude, he told him he must communicate with him 
by word or letter, and must remember that he had a kind and 
forgiving father who would aid him by council and sympathy to 
recover his lost ground. 

Mrs. Buford more especially urged upon him attention to his 
religious duties. She gave him a Bible, and made him promise 
that he would take time from his other studies to study its con- 
tents. She said she would rejoice to see him a learned and great 
man, but would rather see him a truly pious man with small at- 
tainments, than one possessed of the highest learning and talents 
without religion. In his leave taking, Willie visited Mr. Nelson. 
I^ydia was quite sad at parting from her old classmate. She had 
kept up with him in all his studies, and her general reading was 
more extensive than his. Although of the same age, she was 
nearer maturity than he, and was ambitious to excel in literature 
and become an author. She told Willie that she was sorry that 
the same facilities for acquiring the highest culture was not open 
to women as to men. She said she must content herself with 
becoming a teacher, — but remarked that she was aware that the 
methods of teaching had lately so much changed that she could 
not hope for great success, unless she had some facilities for ac- 
quiring special knowledge that she did not have at home. She 
had heard of Normal schools, in New Jersey, for the preparation 
of teachers, and had resolved to attend one. Willie approved of 
the idea, and assured her that he had no doubt but that she would 
make a grand success. 

Mr. Nelson told Willie that he hoped he would always love 
learning for its own sake, independently of the wealth or repu- 
tation it might bring. In his youth he had been ambitious of 
wealth and fame, and had acquired neither, but he would not now 
exchange the small amount of learning he possessed for Astor's 
money, or Hairston's two thousand slaves. Willie told him he 



- 38 - 

would ever respect and esteem him next to his father and try and 
never depart^ from the lessons he had inculcated. During their 
conversation, little Peter spoke and said, their conversation was 
too grave for him, and he would rather Willie would say some- 
thing about the fun he expected to have at college, and the big 
cities and the sights he would see. He wanted to see the world, 
and poring over Latin books did not suit him, and he was afraid 
his pa would never make much of a scholar of him On the 
leave-taking Mr. Nelson was quite sad at the severing of the ties 
that had so long bound him to his pupil, and Lydia was left in 
tears. 

The next call was on the Jones family. Tom and his father 
came out of the tobacco field, where they were worming the to- 
bacco with hands too dirty to touch a clean person but they 
called for soap and water, as they could not let Willie depart with- 
out shaking hands. Tom said it was fine to be a great scholar, 
but thought he would rather work than be reading books all the 
time. Willie told him everybody could not be a scholar, but that 
many men were very successful in life with very limited educa 
tions ; that he knew Tom could learn last, when he tried, and he 
hoped that he would not neglect reading; that almost everything 
worth knowing was published in English, and a knowledge of 
Latin and Greek was not necessary to become a successful busi- 
ness man. He asked Tom to write to him, and promised to send 
him some books that he thought would interest him, and also 
promised to write to him about some of the strange things he 
expected to see. Mrs. Jones and the girls also came out, and 
they all took leave, wishing him all kinds of good luck, for he 
had endeared himself especially to the poor of the neighborhood 
by his kind and friendly manners. 

He then went to Mrs. Campbell's. Here he met his friend Alfred 
Williams, who was taking leave of his friends, before leaving for 
one of the Virginia colleges. Alfred's conversation was princi- 
pally with Mary, whilst Willie had a long conversation with Liz- 
zie, to whom he revealed more of his hopes and aspirations than 



— 39 — 

to anyone else. Already the germ of love for this beautiful and 
sprightly girl was implanted in his bosom, — but Willie was too 
sensible a boy to show this to her by word or action, knowing 
that they were both too young for any engagement, and that his 
parents would be opposed to his having any entanglement with 
anyone, at this time, and fearing that his father would object to 
Lizzie, from her want of wealth and social position. So he de- 
parted for Harvard with high hopes and a determination to excel 
in all his studies. 

He only took two letters of introduction, one from his father 
to a professor known personally to him, and one from Miss Heath 
to a particular friend, living near the University. 

He soon became deeply interested in his studies, and a new 
world of thought was opened to him. He was already well 
grounded in the grammatical structure of Latin and Greek, but 
critical lectures on these languages and on the philosophy of lan- 
guage in general were deeply interesting to him, and he was al- 
most equally interested in mathematics, as expounded by the 
able professor of natural science, of which he was almost entirely 
ignorant, but his quick and versatile mind soon became interested 
in this subject, and he made rapid progress. He sought not to 
make many acquaintances, but his manners were so gentle and 
his disposition so cheerful that he soon made quite a number, 
and was a general favorite with those who knew him. Though 
of a lively disposition, he was not naturally disposed to dissipa- 
tion, and he was farther guarded against it by his affection for his 
parents and sisters, who, he knew, would be much grieved by 
any lapse from the paths of rectitude on his part. A splendid 
destiny seemed to be opening to this youth, reared by judicious 
and affectionate parents, who had from his earliest years instilled 
into him principles of honor and religion, and also posses-ed of 
wealth and great natural ability. But who can see into the fu- 
ture? 



— 4Q 



CHAPTER XI. 

It was agreed that Miss Heath should continue her school 
until the next summer, she proposing to make a short visit in 
December to her mother and sister, Mrs. Eaton, who since she 
left them had moved to Boston. 

Life at Judge Buford's was ver\ quiet, after Willie's de- 
parture, and the void left by his absence was felt by all, even the 
servants moving about more quietly than heretofore. He did not 
propose to visit home until the next summer vacation. His let- 
ters were frequent, and were wetcomed with interest by all. He 
had entered into a world new to him who had been reared in the 
country, and before this time had never visited a city. His de- 
scriptions of things seen were particularly interesting to his sis- 
ters, who, like him, had never travelled. They were delighted, 
when their father promised ihem a short visit to some of the 
cities the next summer before entering the Richmond Female 
College, where it was intended they should finish their education. 
James Campbell had become almost as one of the family, and 
Judge Buford frequency employed him in business not connected 
with the overseeing of his hands. He and Miss Heath were now 
frequently thrown into each other's company and soon formed a 
high opinion of each other. When she left to visit her family, 
he accompanied her as far as Richmond, being sent by the Judge 
to attend to the sale of his tobacco. Before taking leave of her 
he ventured, with much trepidation, to declare his attachment 
for her. Though not wholly unprepared for this avowal, she 
was rather taken by surprise, and would not give him an answer 
until her return. He returned home feeling a good deal of un- 
easiness which he might have spared himself, if he had been well 
acquainted with the female character, as women seldom reject a 
man, when they deliberate. He was also diffident of his ability, 
from his want of education, to please a highly educated woman. 
But as we find men of the highest attain ment.s frequently choose 



— 4 i — 

as wives uneducated women, so well educated women frequently 
become deeply attached to men much inferior to them in mental 
culture. 

In due time she returned and promised to marry him, if he 
would wait until the next autumn. Her relatives in Boston were 
delighted to see her, and remarked the great improvement in her 
appearance. Perfect health, acquired by her residence in one of 
the healthiest parts of Virginia, and new formed hopes enliven- 
ing her countenance, made her appear positively handsome. 
There are few women who would not prefer the love and protec- 
tion of an honorable man pleasing in appearance and strong in 
body and in character to fighting the battle of life alone, however 
pleasant the surroundings. 

Mrs. Eaton was shocked when her sister told her that she 
had decided to accept an overseer. When she thought of such a 
person at all, she pictured him as a low, profane, cruel and igno- 
rant fellow, and could not realize it, when told by her sister that 
he was a perfect gentleman in manners, of fair intelligence, and 
so young and so much handsomer than herself that she felt 
ashamed to marry him, lest his supericr appearance should excite 
remark. Indeed she was six months older than him, and she was 
astonished at gaining his affections. Her mother, who had vis- 
ited the South with her husband and had not so much of that 
prejudice which, at this time, so much prevailed among the 
young of the North, said she had no objection, as her daughter 
informed her that he was an honorable man and a consistent 
Christian. 

After returning to Judge Buford's and consenting to marry 
James Campbell, she insisted that they should be married at her 
sister's, in the presence of her mother, to which he very readily 
agreed. He was quite a diffident man, and nothing was known 
of their engagement for several months. She devoted herself as- 
siduously to her school, which was to close the last of June. She 
had formed many acquaintances and enjoyed the society of the 
guests of the family, when not engaged with her pupils. Dr. 



— 42 — 

Stoval was a frequent visitor professionally and socially, and, be- 
ing a shrewd observer, had some suspicion of her relations with 
James which he kept to himself, as it is the custom with discreet 
physicians not to speak of what they see in their visits to fami- 
lies. He only indulged himself occasionally in a little good mat- 
ured teasing, not going far enough to cause annoyance. When 
the time came for Miss Heath to leave, the girls were much dis- 
tressed and exacted a promise from her to visit them, which she 
very readily gave. 

As Willie was coming home to spend the vacation, all the 
family determined to remain at home all the summer. James 
Campbell had told of his engagement, to Judge Buford, in strict 
privacy, so that he might look out for another overseer, as he had 
determined to do business for himself alone. The Judge, whilst 
regretting to lose him, approved of his course. During the sum- 
mer he had erected a neat addition to his mother's cottage. 
When this became known, his neighbors were pretty sure he in- 
tended taking a wife, but were divided in opinion as to who she 
might be. As he kept his own council, there came to be quite 
an excitement on the subject, especially among the ladies. Since 
his engagement he had spent most of his spare time in reading, 
and was not ashamed, when meeting difficulties, to seek the as- 
sistance of his affianced ; so that he became a man of very fair 
general intelligence. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Willie returned in July, not much changed in appearance, 
and having the same kind and friendly address to all. His sisters 
were delighted with all the wonders he had to tell them of; of all 
the fine and strange things he had seen, and they now anticipated 
with pleasure the two weeks' trip they were to take with him 
and their father, before his return to college and their going to 
Richmond to school. A few days after Willie's return, his cousin, 
John Preston, came to spend a short time with him. He lived in 



— 43 — 

one of the extreme Southern counties of what is now West Vir- 
ginia, where his father was a large landholder and stock-raiser. 
He was a student of the University of Virginia, and was about 
two years older than Willie. Although of respectable talents 
and fair ability, he was inclined to dissipation in his habits, and 
was very aristocratic in his notions. He was of a very restless 
disposition, and went every day to make some call, or was out 
hunting or fishing. He frequently made remarks about Willie's 
friendly address to poor people. After making a call with Wil- 
lie at Mrs. Campbell's, he spoke of his condescension in visiting 
such plain people. Lizzie had not come into the sitting room 
during his visit, being considered too young to receive the atten- 
tions of gentlemen, but John had gotten a good look at her in 
passing, and remarked to Willie that the opportunity of seeing 
such a girl would excuse a good deal of condescension. He made 
some other remarks about Lizzie that angered Willie, who told 
him that if James Campbell should hear of such language about 
his sister he would resent it, and that in fact he resented it him- 
self, and would be obliged to him not to make such remarks 
again. John replied : "O, you are a straight-laced set about 
here, but I am pleased to know there are some exceptions. 
When I was the other day at your little store, I wished to have 
my tickler replenished, — when the proprietor said: 'Young 
man, are you twenty one years old?' As I was too honorable, if 
not too religious, to tell a positive lie, he refused positively to 
sell me any whiskey. Just then, the father of your good friend, 
Tom Jones, came riding up on an old bony horse, and I took him 
aside and gave him my tickler and a dollar. He soon returned 
with the desired article, of which, at my request, he partook lib- 
erally, and although he tendered the change, was polite enough 
to keep it at my request. So you see all are not saints in your 
neighborhood." 

Willie's reply was, "I have read in Webster's spelling-book 
that strong drink will debase a man. If it has debased Jones, 
are you not afraid it will debase you?" 



— 44 — 

John was gentlemanly in address, when he desired to be sc . 
and quite intelligent and good looking; so he made a more favor- 
able impression upon the Judge and Mrs. Buford than upon Wil- 
lie, who had a better opportunity to find out his real disposition. 
He exacted a promise from them that they would visit his tather 
and mother, whom they had not seen for some years, the next 
summer. 

After John's departure, Judge Buford, accompanied by his 
daughters and son, visited several of the Northern cities, and 
went as far as Boston, where Willie remained until the com- 
mencement of the lectures at the university. They visited Miss 
Heath, who was much pleased at seeing them, and contributed 
greatly to their enjoyment by her knowledge of the beauties and 
curiosities of the city. On their arrival at the Richmond college, 
they were met by Lizzie Campbell, who had already arrived. Al- 
though it was a strain on the means of the Campbell family, Miss 
Heath had persuaded James to give Lizzie the best educational 
advantages the country afforded. She had come to love her very 
much and had already in mind destined her for Willie Buford, of 
whom she had a very high opinion, both as to talents and moral 
worth. She knew there was a leaven of family pride among the 
best and plainest of wealthy Virginians, and the Buford's were 
not exempt from it, but she believed they would not object to so 
lovely and intelligent a girl as Lizzie, if she was highly educated 
and accomplished. 

During the autumn, James Campbell put up a very neat ad- 
dition to his house. In December, after witnessing the marriage 
of his sister Mary to Mr. Taylor, a young Baptist minister, he 
went to Boston for his intended bride. Thev were quietly mar- 
ried, Willie Buford and Harlow Heath, the bride's brother, from 
Chicago, standing up with them. On their return, as James 
wished somewhat to enlarge his farming operations, they stopped 
in Richmond to purchase two negroes, a girl and a boy. They 
called at the large establishment of Davis & Crawford, where a 
large number were constantly kept on hand, and of a variety to 



- -45 — 

suit all purchasers, who frequently came from even distant Texas 
and Missouri to purchase a supply of labor needed for these new 
and fast developing States. The proprietors sold on commission, 
either privately or at auction, to suit the seller, and boarded the 
negroes, until an opportunity for selling was offered. They were 
cleanly dressed and well fed, and had but to play on the banjo and 
dance, an amusement in which the more piously inclined would 
not indulge, but spent a good deal of time in singing and prayer. 
They were very kindly treated, and no severity was used, unless 
it was necessary to keep good order. On the premises, however, 
there was a jail in which were confined the unruly, and those 
whose owners were afraid ttiey would try to make their escape. 
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were conducted into a large and clean 
apartment by an elderly colored woman who was elegantly dressed 
and very dignified and ladylike in manner. She belonged to the 
proprietors, and superintended the female department. Under 
her superintendence, the utmost decorum was observed. The 
negroes were always on the alert, when a prospective purchaser 
appeared, and eager to get a look at him. When James Camp- 
bell strolled into the yard, a dignified old man approached him 
and said, "Masser, I like your looks, and I wish you would buy 
us, me and my ole 'oman and our youngest darter; dare ain't no 
likelier gal dan Susan, and dar is a heap of good work in me an' 
the old 'oman yit." He stated that he had been foreman for a 
wealthy gentleman who had died much in debt, and that he and 
others had to be sold for a division among heirs and to pay debts. 
The proprietors had been instructed to sell these three together 
if possible. James told him he only wanted two, and must have 
a younger man. Poor o'd Jim, weary of waiting for a purchaser, 
fell back with a sigh. A selection was finally made of a stout 
boy of eighteen, for eleven hundred dollars, and of a fine spright- 
ly looking girl of the same age, highly recommended by the pro- 
prietors and the colored matron, for one thousand. The bill of 
sale for the girl was given to Mrs. Campbell. Thus the Yankee 
schoolmistress became a slaveholder, having modified her opinions 



- 4 6- 

of slavery considerably since her sojourn in Virginia. When she 
and her husband became settled in their home, a new era was in- 
augurated. A cooking stove was bought, much to the disgust of 
old Jane, on which the cooking for the white family was done by 
the lad}' and her new maid. A Sunday-school was started at the 
old meeting-house, and the young negroes were catechised during 
the long winter evenings. The young Mrs. Campbell never 
learned to weave or spin, thinking the time was past when there 
was any profit in these domestic manufactures, but the old lady 
would not give up her old employment, and furnished quite a 
quantity of jeans for the negroes' clothing and many nice coun- 
terpanes in which she took great pride. 

As the spring advanced many flowers were planted in the 
yard and garden. When these had bloomed, and whitewash had 
been liberally applied to the fences and out-houses, the old place 
presented a neat and attractive appearance. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Campbell were very hospitable, and their house a place of fre- 
quent resort for young people to engage in singing and other in- 
nocent amusements. James Campbell was a thorough theoretical 
and practical fanner, and endowed with great energy and indus- 
try, and under the wise and benignant legislation of the time, 
State and federal, prospered greatly. His wife soon joined his 
church, the Baptist, there being at that time no essential differ- 
ence between that church and hers, the Congregational, except 
as to the mode of and subjects for baptism. When old Mrs. 
Heath and Mrs. Eaton paid them a visit, some eighteen mouths 
after their marriage, the}' were in many respects highly pleased, 
but could not be entirely reconciled to slavery, although their 
daughter and sister had become a thorough Southern woman in 
feeling. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

When Willie came home in the summer of 1858, the family 
determined to pay their promised visit to the Prestons, in the 
mountains. Mrs. Buford and the girls went in the family car- 



— 47- 

riage, and the Judge and Willie in an open buggy, that they 
might have a better view of the country. 

In the afternoon of the first day they had a splendid view of 
the Blue Ridge, with the peaks of Otter towering high above the 
rest of the range. Here much of the land is quite fertile, and 
they passed many farms in a high state of cultivation, with good 
buildings on them. Not onlj T was a fine article of tobacco pro- 
duced, but a large quantity of corn, wheat and grass. About sun- 
down, they came to the well known Buford house al the entrance 
of Buford's Gap in the Blue Ridge. This house had been kept 
for forty year, by Capt. Buford, a distant relation of the Judge 
Here the road forks, one prong leading through the gap to the 
great West and South, and the other winding up the mountain's 
side to Charleston on the Kanawha River and Guyandotte on the 
Ohio, by the way of Fincastle and the White Sulphur Springs. 
Bu' ford's, before the era of railroads, had been a famous inn. 
Here stage coaches loaded with passengers on their way to Lynch- 
burg and Richmond and Washington, had stopped to get supper 
and a few hours' sleep before rising before day to hurry on to 
their destination ; and here large droves of hogs and cattle were 
stopped to be fed on their way to market, and immense wagons 
drawn by six mammoth horses were left, for the night, in the 
wagon yard. But these good old times, so profitable to tavern- 
keepers, had come to a close, and the iron horse went snorting 
by. 

The house was a large, old-fashioned frame, and there were 
several other smaller buildings in the yard where drovers and 
wagoners were wont to spend the night, wrapped in blankets, 
before a roaring fire, in tlte winter time. 

Old Captain Buford was a thorough gentleman ot the old 
school, of unblemished character, and beloved and respected by 
all who knew him. He had much State pride, and was a fiery 
Southerner in sentiment. He had no son, and his daughters were 
all married, so he and his wife were left alone. He owned a large 
and valuable farm and had ample means, so he kept tavern from 



-48- 

the force of habit and the love of company. Guests, since the 
completion of the railroad, which ran near him, had become in- 
frequent, so he met the arriving pavty with a hearty welcome, 
and was highly delighted at seeing his relative whom he had not 
met for several years. He was much pleased with the fine and 
manly appearance of Willie, and being, like many old men, very 
fond of young persons, drew him into conversation. When told 
of his progress at college, he said he expected him to make a 
great statesman, and do honor to the Buford name and the old 
State. The old man had been the personal friend of Thomas 
Jefferson, who, in his long horseback rides, had frequently spent 
the night with him, and he told many anecdotes of him, being, 
like other old men, fond of recalling the distant past. The party 
had an excellent supper and breakfast and slept on comfortable 
beds with snow-whice sheets. Indeed in those days and in the 
years gone by Virginia was not to be excelled in the excellent 
of her inns. All compensation, for their entertainment, was pos- 
itively refused, and Willie was cordially invited to come, if he 
ever had time, and bring a friend and enjoy some good hunting 
among the mountains. 

In the morning, after passing the highest part of the gap, 
they entered Roanoke county. They seemed here to be enclosed 
on all sides by mountains, the Blue Ridge behind them, the Tinker 
Ridge north and northeast, and a range on the south and south- 
west running lrom the Alleghanies to the Blue Ridge. The land 
of this large valley is very level and fertile. At short intervals 
they crossed clear and ever running brooks, all verging into the 
Roanoke River. This river, after breaking through the Blue 
Ridge, is called the Staunton, and after uniting with the Dan 
flowing from North Carolina, is again called the Roanoke, and 
under this name empties into Albemarle Sound. The farm lands 
were generally good, and on every farm was a large barn for stor- 
ing hay and grain above, with stalls for cattle below, a kind of 
structure seldom seen in Eastern Virginia, where tobacco was the 
main staple. 



— 49 — 

Everything- they saw showed evidences of prosperity. The 
people here were divided into two distinct classes, who had but 
little social intercourse, the one being composed of descendants 
of Scotch-Irish emigrants and persons who had moved mostly 
from Eastern Virginia who readily affiliated with them, the other 
of persons of Dutch and German descent, who were generally 
Lutherans and Dunkards, who owned no slaves. The Dunkards 
indeed did not allow members of their communion to hold slaves 
at all, bear arms or go to law. The slave holding part of the peo- 
ple raised a considerable amount 'of tobacco, though with them it 
was not so exclusive a crop as in the East. The Dunkards raised 
none, but confined themselves to grain, grass, vegetables, honey 
and sorghum, and fruits. Both classes were good farmers. The 
Dutch built their houses, very unpretentious structures, on low 
places near a spring. However cheap a building the house might 
be, the barn was always a large and costly building. The other 
farmers frequently lived in large brick houses, always on an le- 
vated place. Here the negro was in his glory, being well clothed, 
moderately worked, and ted without stint, his labor giving a rich 
remuneration to his owner, which was not always the case in the 
East, where it frequently occurred that one had to be sold to fur- 
nish means to support the others. 

In one day's travel, they traversed this delightful valley, and 
the next day entered a country rough and diversified. They 
passed many cabins on steep and rocky hillsides, surrounded by 
patches of corn and potatoes, on land too steep to be plowed ; and 
again they would come to fertile but narrow valleys, cultivated 
in corn or grazed by herds of cattle. The negro here was scarce- 
ly seen at all. The land was mostly owned by a few wealthy 
men, who lived in grand baronial style, surrounded by their de- 
pendants, who were mostly very poor and ignorant. 

When Willie spoke to his father about the poverty of these 
people and the blank, unintelligent expression of their faces, the 
Judge replied, "this state of things ought not to be, and can be 
chanq;ed. This mountain country has immense resources, if de- 



-~5o — 

veloped There are large valuable mineral deposits, and the lim- 
ber is magnificent, besides the productive powers of these ricli 
valleys have not been half developed. Legislation can do much, 
by establishing schools, and publishing to the world the resources 
of this country and inviting immigration, and convincing capital- 
ists that they can find here a profitable investment. It is my 
ambition for vou to serve in the Legislature of your State and 
promote its interests, hence I am spending a good deal on your 
education. Do not strive to enter Congress young. The reputa- 
tion of our greatest statesmen was firsc acquired in the councils 
of their own States. There is a great deal of hidden talent among 
such poor people as you have seen to-day. Barker, one of the 
finest preachers in our denomination, and George Pearcy, our 
missionary to China, were born in just such cabins as you see 
over there. And as an instance of success under difficulties, I 
ma}' mention William Farmer, the eminent dentist, also reared 
in a mountain cabin. I mention these things to incite you to ex- 
cel, who have such great opportunities." Willie replied that he 
would do his best to accomplish all that his father hoped for him, 
and he was conscious that his education would do nothing fol- 
ium if he trusted to ic alone and made no farther exertion. "That 
is true, my son," replied the Judge; "and above all things what- 
ever your acquirements ma}' be, cultivate good common sense." 
On the afternoon of the third day after leaving Buford's, they 
came to Col. Preston's lands. They came first to a large enclos- 
ure, where the undergrowth had been cut out, grown up in blue 
grass equal to that of Kentucky, and passing this, they saw a 
large field with the crop of oats still in the field in the shock, as 
though just cut, although it was the middle of August, and a 
large number of hay stacks on an elevation near the bottom on 
which it was grown. Some of the mountain sides were inclosed 
and furnished considerable pasture. On the pastures were graz- 
ing large herds of cattle and mules in numbers astonishing to 
Willie, who had never visited a grazing country. They ap- 



— 5i — 

proached the dwelling by entering a wooded inclosure through a 
large wide gate. 

The house stood more than a quarter of a mile from the 
road, and was approached by a Macadamized road through a for- 
est having the undergrowth cut out, and being well set in bine 
grass. The yard was mostly shaded by natural forest tre<=s with 
a few varieties of foreign spruce and pine, The bine grass was 
everywhere luxuriant in growth. The front yard was handsome- 
ly ornamented with flowers and running vines. The house was 
an old-fashioned brick two stories high, containing eight large 
rooms, besides two low rooms in the rear. There were large 
porches in the front and rear. As in Eastern Virginia, the kitchen 
and servants' rooms were at some distance from the residence. 
In the distance could be seen a very large barn for grain and hay 
in the upper story, with stalls for horses and cattle in the lower. 
Col. Preston and lady were at home and expecting their visitors 
whom they welcomed with old-fashioned hospitality and affection. 
Their family consisted of John and two daughters, younger 
than he, two older daughters being married and settled at their 
own ho :ies. Col. Preston was at this time about sixty years old. 
He was once a very handsome man, but indulgence in wine and 
at the table had left its marks upon him. In his case, gout, a 
rare American disease, was added to rheumatism so common in 
these mountains. He was of a kindly disposition and had a fair 
collegiate education and good natural abilities ; but in youth, pro- 
posing no high aims, and being possessed of wealth, he had mere- 
ly drifted. However, he was a fair manager of his estate and 
never gambled. Mrs. Preston, five years his junior, was still a 
fine looking, healthy woman. Like the Buford family generally, 
she possessed a strong character. In politics she was a Demo- 
crat and Southern rights woman, in religion a high church Epis- 
copalian. The minister who officiated in the little church near 
derived one half of his support from her. She was intensely 
aristocratic, yet very kind to the poor. She was devoted to her 
only son, very proud of him, and blind to his many faults. Her 



— 52 — 

young daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were handsome and amia- 
ble, but had neither their mother's strong character nor pride. 

John, now at home, had finished his academic course and 
was taking a rest before commencing the study of law. He had 
graduated in all the schools of the University of Virginia except 
in mathematics, shrinking from the hard study necessary to mas- 
ter this science in its higher branches, thus failing to take the 
degree of A.M., much to his mother's mortification. He was, 
however, a fine linguist and well read in English literature, and 
was a ready and forcible speaker. His temper was quick, his 
moral principles unfixed, and he already had acquired a taste for 
alcoholic drinks. Col. Preston was inclined to be neutral in re- 
ligion and politics. However, to relieve the tedium of Sundays, 
he generally attended church, and in politics his sympathies were 
with the South, though fearing agitation that might lead to revo- 
lution. He owned but few slaves, only a sufficient number for 
domestic servants, his fields being cultivated and his cattle herded 
by white men. Many people around held to him almost the same 
relation that feudal tenants formerly held to the barons in Eu- 
rope, and almost daily a number of rough men in their shirt 
sleeves, with long rifles on their shoulders, might be seen around 
his outhouses and stables. These men always voted with him, 
and were ready to join with him in any feud he might have with 
his neighbors. In after years when war came, men in Col. Pres- 
ton's position, in these mountains, were almost universally fol- 
lowed by their tenants, whichever side the}- might espouse. 

There was a watering place in the neighborhood, fitted up 
for the accommodation of a few guests. Here a few families 
from the South resorted in summer for a quiet resting place. 
These formed the acquaintance of the family, so the young peo- 
ple did not want for company. 

Judge Pnford said he and his wife had come out here for rest, 
and spent his time reading and taking quiet horseback rides with 
Col. Preston. They had both been Whigs, when that party had 
an existence, and agreed very well in politics, and in their rides 



— 53 — 

would discuss politics in a quiet manner. The subject, however, 
was seldom mentioned in'JMrs. Preston's presence, as she would 
not agree at$all with them. John and Willie had some very good 
sport, ten miles away, hunting deer, accompanied by some of the 
rough mountaineers. They camped out at night in a small tent 
they carried with them. They carried no provisions but bread 
and coffee, trusting to their guns for meat. Willie had the luck, 
much to his delight, of bringing down a fine buck. There was . 
also some good fishing in the clear mountain streams. Willie 
was quite expert as a fisherman in the waters of the Staunton, 
but could not compete with John in angling for trout found in 
these clear cold streams, but not in the rivers of the low country. 
An incident occurred during this visit showing John's ungovern- 
able temper and Willie's coolness. They were riding together, 
where two young men, a negro and a white man, were driving 
and trying to separate some cattle from the bulk of the herd. 
Whilst the negro was riding rapidly he wheeled his horse sudden- 
ly and ran against a snag. This inflicted a severe cut in the side 
of his horse, which was a very fine animal. On this, John rushed 
upon him and lashed him with his riding whip. On the young 
white man remarking that the accident was unavoidable aud that 
Dick was not to blame, John turned upon him, saying, "what 

have you to do with it, you poor, [using an opprobrious epithet, 

at the same time raising his whip as if to strike.] The hand of 
the man went into his bosom instantly, when Willie pushed his 
horse between them, saying, "hold, John, you are too hasty; my 
friend, let's stop this thing— forgive and forget." John lowered 
his whip, saying, "I was so aggravated. That horse is, I believe, 
injured for life." Willie prevailed on him to offer an apology to 
both, in case of Dick, adding a quarter of a dollar which seemed 
much to soothe his wounded ieelings. 



54 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Their visit being over, all returned home. Willie, though 
much pleased with his visit, saw no reason for preferring the 
mountain country to Eastern Virginia. He preferred the state 
of society in his own section. The social distinctions were more 
marked than in the Piedmont section. Wealthy families frequent- 
ly resided many miles from those with whom they mingled so- 
cially. Whilst there were many intelligent and educated people, 
there was a large class illiterate, degraded and superstitious, and 
this in a greater degree than in any class east of the mountains. 
After spending a few days at home, Willie took his departure for 
Harvard, and his sisters, accompanied by Lizzie Campbell, for 
Richmond, he accompanying them to that place. 

He had advanced rapidly in learning and had made a reputa- 
tion for ability with his classmates. He was devoted to his 
studies, and went but little into society, only occasionally visiting 
a tew friends in Boston. He tu ide many friends among the stu- 
dents from all sections of the country. Among these students 
politics was frequently discussed, and life long opinions formed. 
Willie's .Southern principles were not overcome by his Northern 
associations. He found many persons very prejudiced and unin- 
formed about the condition of the Southern States, and his in- 
dignation was frequently aroused by the remarks he had to listen 
to. Being of a domestic disposition, he always went home dur- 
ing the summer vacations. 

The year [859 was an era of great prosperity in the South. 
The great majority of farmers were busily engaged in improving 
their farms and bettering their fortunes, unconscious of the great 
catastrophe so soon to come upon them. Only a few were suf- 
ficiently discerning to see the cloud that was approaching. 
Anion-; these lew was Judge Bnford. who was prudently invest- 
ing his surplus means in the newer Northern States. The state 
of society in the country in Virginia was in a condition we shall 



— 55 — 

probably never see again. Men of moderate a. id large fortunes 
had no nome but their plantations and farms. They had no city 
residences, and all their interests were with their neighbors- 
They lived in an independent and dignified style, having all the 
necessities if but few of the elegancies of life. They were leisure- 
ly and systematic in their habits, and had not the frantic haste to 
be rich, characteristic of more recent times. A planter worth 
fifty thousand dollars had a higher social position than a million- 
aire of to-day. If the planters had some of the faults of pa- 
tricians, they also had the virtues. They could not retain the 
respect of their neighbors, if any stain of meanness or of cow- 
ardice was attached to them. Want of courage in a man, or of 
virtue in a woman, was looked upon as an unpardonable offense. 
In any warfare between capital and labor the wealthy slaveholder 
was the natural ally of the laborer, all his income coming direct- 
ly from the labor of his slaves, and when slavery was abolished, 
the poor man of the North and of the South lost his only power- 
ful friend, and was left to struggle unaided by wealth, in any 
quarter, against the combined capital of the whole country. 

Willie, on his return, visited his old acquaintances. He 
found Miss Nelson, who had just returned from her school in 
New Jersey at home. She was now a highly accomplished lady, 
with an education equalled for thoroughness by that of but few 
persons in the State. She had procured a situation in a large 
public school in a city of Indiana, at a good salary, and would go 
to attend to her duties in September. Mr. Nelson was delighted 
with the progress and prospects of his old pupil and confidently 
predicted that he would make a great man. 

Tom Jones had improved greatly. He was making fine 
crops and had repaired the old house, put up nice new fences 
and changed the looks of things around for the better. Judge 
Buford observed his course with pleasure and had determined 
that in a few years he would give him business in the manage- 
ment of his plantation. An elderly man, Mr. Trigg, was now 
overseer. During Willie's stay at home, Mr. Trigg was laid up with 



-56- 

an attack of fever, and the hands were under the control of the 
negro foreman. One day as Willie was riding through the fields 
he discovered quite a commotion among the hands. On riding 
up he found Sam in open rebellion, positively refusing to obey 
orders. On his interfering and insisting on obedience to the fore- 
man, Sam, who was much excited, said. "Mars Willie, you ain't 
de oberseer and ain't got nothing to do with me; you better go 
along and mind your own business." On his replying, "I will 
show you what I have to do with it," Sam rejoined, "go away, 
you might get hurt." On this, Willie leaped from his horse. He 
was six feet two inches in height, and although apparently slen- 
der, weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds. Though a 
close student, he had not neglected the gymnasium and was an 
expert boxer and very active. Sam was of that Herculean build 
so common in the negro race. Though not so tall as V\ illie by 
four inches, he weighed over two hundred pounds, without hav- 
ing an ounce of superfluous flesh. His strength was almost in- 
credible, and since his eighteenth year, he had never met his 
match in strength. As Willie advanced, Sam threw himself on 
the defensive, thinking that he could easily seize and hold him 
without hurting him. But Willie so skillfully planted a blow 
under his chin as to fell him to the earth, and every time he at- 
tempted to rise, repeated with so good an effect, that Sam gave it 
up. 

Sam. before this time, had rebelled and been conquered, but 
only by force of weapons and of numbers. Never before had he 
met a man that dared to stand up before him in lair fight, and he 
respected Willie accordingly. He being now humbled, Willie 
listened to an account of the difficulty, made Sam agree to sub- 
mit, and told the foreman not to tell his father anything about it, 
as he disliked very much to be annoyed by such things. 

Willie was a frequent visitor of the Campbell's. Their home 
was made pleasant by intelligence, industry and refinement. On 
his first call, Mrs. Campbell proudly exhibited for his inspection 
little William Buford, a fine chubby fellow of six mouths old. 



— 57 — 

He now told Lizzie of his love for her, and she told him that she 
supposed she had always loved him, as she could not remember 
when she had begun to do so. It was agreed that they would be 
mairied as soon as he could procure license to practice law, an 
event which they could not foresee would be long postponed by 
coming events. In the meantime they gave themselves up to the 
enjoyment of the present with bright dreams for the future. 
She was so intelligent, so beautiful and so amiable that he thought 
that no man could be happier than he. And he was so noble in 
appearance, so talented and so brave, he was to her a king among 
men. 

No one would desire to see a dark and angry cloud on a beau- 
tiful day of sunshine, and none would desire that these two, 
happy in the present, should hear the mutterings of that tempest, 
already heard by some in the distance, destined to overwhelm 
them. Judge Buford, observing Willie's frequent visits to the 
Campbell's, suspected the purport, and being an ambitious man, 
desired his son to make a brilliant and wealthy marriage. After 
hesitating for some time, from that strange timidity some parents 
feel in addressing their children on this subject, he at last led him 
into a conversation about it, telling him that he was too young 
as yet to form an engagement, and that after the completion of 
his studies he would have an opportunity of becoming acquainted 
with ladies of wealthy and distinguished families. 

Willie replied, "Father. I will be candid with you. I have 
always obeyed you, but in relation to marriage, I will be my own 
judge. You are a Baptist and have always taught me that, in 
matters of religion, no human authority should interpose between 
a man and his Maker. I believe it is just so in relation to mar- 
riage. I love Lizzie Campbell and expect to marry her, and 
would request you as a gentleman not to let anyone know that 
you do not entirely approve of it. She is so proud that, although 
she loves me, she might refuse me, if my family objects." 

Judge Buford knew the firmness of his son and gave the de- 
sired promise. He had no idea of outraging the feelings of his 



-53- 

son, and would not oppose him in anything he might desire, un- 
less a question of principle was involved. Although valueing 
wealth and distinction, he preferred to them his son's affection. 
Good Mrs. Buford had no objections to the gentle Lizzie. 

His vacation being nearly ended, Willie departed for Har- 
vard, accompanying his sister and Lizzie to Richmond. This 
was to be the last collegiate year for him and them. He bade his 
betrothed a tender farewell, each promising an uninterrupted cor- 
respondence. 

CHAPTER XV. 

The summer of i860, so eventful in history, had now come, 
and Willie had graduated with great distinction. On his return 
home he was accompanied by a particular friend, about a year his 
senior, Marion Lamont, of South Carolina, who had graduated 
with him. Lamont was descended from an ancestor who had left 
France to avoid the persecutions of Louis XIV. He was very 
wealthy ; the only son of his mother, who was a widow. He was 
barely of the middle height and quite spare in form, but firmly 
knit and symmetrical in shape. His head was finely formed and 
of moderate size, his eyes blue and his complexion remarkably 
fair. Casually observed, his appearance was rather effeminate, 
but in spite ol this he was emphatically, physically and intel- 
lectually a man. He had that perfection of manner possessed by 
so many gentlemen of the extreme Southern States, easy, un- 
affected and pleasant, in which they stand unrivaled, except, per- 
haps, by the educated class in Massachusetts. Though retiring 
he had rare conversational powers for so young a man. His abil- 
ities were of a high order, and he was the soul of honor. 

Letitia, the elder Miss Buford, had grown up to be an ex- 
ceedingly beautiful woman. Though only seventeen, she seemed 
already a mature woman. She was very tall and her form full 
and well rounded. Her hair and eyes were dark, but her com- 
plexion was very fair. Her expression, though intelligent, had 



— 59 — 

all the sweetness and gentleness of childhood. The influences 
surrounding her from her earliest years had been pure and re- 
ligious; and though she possessed a mind of superior order and 
highly cultivated, she was as ignorant as a child of the evil that 
was in the world. But with all this gentleness and simplicity, 
she had a very firm and unyielding disposition, and a purpose 
once formed by her was very hard to be changed. 

No sooner had Lemon t seen her than his fate was sealed. 
He became immediately deeply in love. She was not so suscep- 
tible, but in a few weeks she yielded to the fascination of his 
manners and the brilliancy and earnestness of his conversation. 
This was pleasing to Willie, who esteemed no one more highly 
than Lamont, who was so honorable that he soon spoke to Judge 
Buford on the subject. He gave him references of the highest 
character as to his standing morally and socially, and as to the 
extent of his property, which was large, and which was his own, 
as his father was not living. To his surprise, the Judge received 
his proposal quite coolly, urging the extreme youth of his daugh- 
ter and the precarious condition of National affairs as reasons 
why he would not consent to their early union. Willie was 
grieved at this, as he saw no reason why they should not be mar- 
ried in a short time, as Lamont did not intend following a pro- 
fession, his wealth being sufficient to justify him in this course. 

Letitia, who had become very much in love, if urged, would 
have left father and mother for him. She told him she was irre- 
vocably his, and would go with him whenever he came for her. 
Lamont was too honorable to take advantage of her feelings. In 
about a month, he took his leave, promising frequent letters and 
exacting the promise of an answer to all of them. He also prom- 
ised that he would go to see her, at her new residence, as soon as 
practicable, — a promise very long in being fulfilled, caused by 
events over which he had no control. 

Judge Buford had determined to move to Chicago, the next 
winter, and Willie to attend the law school of the University of 
Virginia, in the autumn, his father entertaining a high opinion 



— 6o — 

of the legal abilities of Judge Minor, the law professor. 

During the summer, the people were intensely excited about 
the pending Presidential election. Willie, though too young to 
vote, was deeply interested and formed his own opinions. The 
John Brown raid had made a deep impression on the public mind, 
and there was a strong feeling against Northern aggression 
caused not by the atrocious attempt of a fanatic, but by the open- 
ly expressed sympathy of many occupying high public office or 
.conducting influential newspapers. It was now generally be- 
lieved that the election of a President on a sectional issue would 
cause a dissolution of the Union. Unfortunately those opposed 
to .such a result were divided into three parties. 

The three old friends, Judge Buford, Dr. Stoval and Mr. Nel- 
son were divided as to their choice for President. Mr. Nelson 
was for Breckenridge and Lane, affirming that the Southern 
States and all lovers of constitutional liberty everywhere should 
contend for full and equal rights in States and Territories, and 
neither Congress nor a territorial Legislature had a right to dis- 
criminate against property in slaves more than against properly 
of any other kind. He asserted that the States were equal, and 
and that the Territories, the common property of all, could not 
be rightfully conceded to one section ; that our Union was a con- 
stitution Union, and that every State was the rightful judge of its 
own internal policy, and that Congress had no right to interfere 
except to protect all in their constitutional rights. Dr. Stoval, 
for reasons satisfactory to himself, was for Douglass and Johnson. 
He said Douglass was the regular Democratic nominee, voted for 
by two-thirds of all the delegates present, that he was a good 
man and' true to the constitution, and had not changed his prin- 
ciples, which were the same he held in 1S56, when he was very 
popular in the South. He also asserted that Douglass, if elected, 
would sign and enforce any constitutional law for the protection 
of slave property as well as for any other property. He felt cer- 
tain that Breckenridge could not possibly be elected, being the 
nominee of a faction of the Democratic party, and he thought it 



— 6i — 

very dangerous to reject so good a man as Douglass merely be- 
cause some of the party did not agree with him on an abstraction. 
For his part, he would vote for Mr. Breckeuridge, if he were the 
regular nominee, although he agreed with Mr. Douglass in his 
opinions, knowing how dangerous it was to divide a party in crit- 
ical times like the present. Judge Buford said that, although a 
Whig, he would have supported the Democratic nominee, had 
there been no division in the party, but now he believed it would 
be impossible to elect either Douglass or Breckeuridge, and that 
there was no chance of defeating Lincoln by an}' of the candi- 
dates opposed to him. The only chance was that the election 
should be thrown into the house of Congress. He considered the 
whole question about the Territories an abstraction, as he did not 
believe that another Territory would ever apply for admission 
into the Union with a constitution permitting slavery. None of 
our Territories were suited for the profitable employment of 
slaves, either from products or climate, besides the preponder- 
ance of emigration to all of them was sure to be opposed. The 
platform on which Bell and Everett were nominated, if carried 
out in good faith, as he believed it would be by them if elected, 
was sufficient for him. Although thus divided, the personal re- 
lations of these old friends was not interrupted. 

After the election of Ljncoln the excitement became more 
intense, and was increased when it was ascertained that South 
Carolina had seceded. The people of Virginia were unwilling to 
secede, but insisted on having new guarantees that none of the 
rights of the States should be infringed upon, and were unaltera- 
bly opposed to the coercion of a State, by the general govern" 
tnent. Such had been their sentiments from the formation of the 
constitution of the United States, and the writer has known old 
men who ceased to support General Jackson, when he issued his 
proclamation, when South Carolina nullified the tariff laws, and 
never voted the Democratic ticket afterward, but lived to de- 
nounce the unconstitutional proclamations of Lincoln, at the be- 
ginning of and during the progress of the civil wa:. T f in 1831. 



— 62 — 

the difficulties with South Carolina had not been peaceably set- 
tled, and the United States had have sent troops into that State, 
Virginia would have resisted. 

Judge Buford, before leaving the State, gave James Camp- 
bell a power of attorney to acft for him and manage and dispose 
of all his property in Virginia. It was determined that the plan- 
tation should be carried on as it had always been The Judge 
would not sell any of his negroes, remarking that if they were 
freed, he had as well sustain the loss as any one else. Mr. Camp- 
bell was to move into the family residence, and his brother-in-law, 
the Rev. Mr. Taylor, into his house. 

Lamont came to see his affianced on Christmas, and Judge 
Buford consented for him to marry her the next winter, if the 
condition of the country would permit. The young people were 
forced to submit to this decision. Lamont remained with the 
family until their departure in January, when he returned home 
to be among the first to take up arms in defense of his State. 

The Virginia Legislature now passed an acl: for the calling 
ol a convention for considering her federal relations, to meet in 
February. To this bod}' James Campbell was eleeled, as a Union 
man, over a very popular young lawyer who was for immediate 
secession, Dr. Stova! voting for him, and Mr. Nelson, though a 
warm, personal friend, for his opponent. The inaugural address 
of Mr. Lincoln was very unfavorably received in Virginia, and 
her State pride was deeply wounded by the reception met with, 
from the authorities at Washington, by delegates sent by her 
with propositions for adjusting national difficulties. 

Border State conventions failed to secure any concessions 
from the Republicans who would agree to no terms of compro- 
mise proposed. The people were becoming convinced that they 
could not retain their constitutional rights in the Union. After 
Mr. Lincoln made ids call for troops to acl against the seceded 
States, the convention, on the 17th of April, passed an ordinance 
of secession by a large majority [among them James Camphell] 
subject to ratification or ejection by the popular vote. The Leg- 



— 63- 

islature did not wait for this vote which was to be taken in May, 
but immediately formed an alliance with the Confederate States. 
As early as the 22d of April, Governor Letcher was in corres- 
pondence with President Davis as to concerted action for com- 
mon defense. The majority for secession was overwhelming, 
with little dissent, except in the northwestern part of the State, 
Here there were but few slaves, and the population much re- 
sembled the people of Pennsylvania near them in habits, occupa- 
tions and political opinions, and where long before secession was 
thought of, a party had been formed for a division of the State. 
These people had long been dissatisfied with their ratio of repre- 
sentation in the Legislature, as slaves were counted as persons, 
in adjusting the number of representatives sent by the counties, 
and they desired a change of the State constitution in this respect. 
Governor Letcher, who resided in the valley country, thought 
these people had just cause for complaint. Hence, when after the 
w r ar had commenced, the project was formed of erecting a new 
State, the idea was already familiar to the people. The vote on 
the question of secession had barely time to be taken, when the 
armies of Patterson and McClellan were poured into the north- 
western part of the State. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

When it became evident that the State would secede, and 
volunteers had been called for to defend the State, Willie Buford 
left the University and hastened to his county. He found the 
people united in the purpose of defending the State, and none to 
approve the course of President Lincoln. Governor Letcher had 
been among them encouraging them in their efforts at defense, 
and the indefatigable ex-Governor, Henry A. Wise, had stopped 
and made them a speech on his way to the Northwest. 

Lizzie tearfully surrendered him to what she believed to be 
the cause of his country, and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had been 
forced to admit that no alternative was left but ignoble submis- 



-6 4 - 

sion to wrong or secession. Willie was fully aware of the fearful 
odds against the South, in case of war, and was not of that foolish 
class of people who boasted that one Southern man was equal in 
fight to three Yankees, but he was young and sanguine and was 
willing to fight any odds rather than tamely surrender what he 
believed to be the rights of his State and section. His father had 
tried to convince him that there was nothing to be gained by se- 
cession and a dissolution of the Union, that circumstances so 
bound the States together that a permanent separation was im- 
practicable, and even if against all probability, the independence 
of the seceded States should be secured, slavery would cease to 
exist, and that in the Union was the proper place to contend for 
right. He was of as firm will as his farther, and determined to 
share the fortunes of his native State. 

In the war now about to commence, the seceding States had 
a militia of 1,450,000, and the adhering States 5,500,000. It is 
true, the secessionists were largely aided by men from Kentucky, 
Missouri and Maryland, but this aid was counterbalanced by the 
disaffection in West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and 
other vStates. They had but few manufactures, no navy, no 
money, and no credit. The history of the world scarcely pre- 
sents an example of so well contested a conflict under such dis- 
advantages. The presence of the negroes among them .was a 
source of weakness and not of strength, and in the closing periods 
of the war, they were of considerable advantage to the Unionists 
as soldiers. 

Willie set himself to work in raising a fine company of cav- 
alry in his county, every man furnishing his own horse. He 
succeeded in enlisting for one year a fine company of young men 
with very superior horses. In order to take Tom Jones along, 
he made him a present of a fine young horse. He was unani- 
mously elected Captain, and his friend, Alfred Williams, First 
Lieutenant, and John Stoval, Second Lieutenant. Young Peter 
Nelson was in the ranks. Being nearly all men of intelligence 
and education, they learned the drill rapidly. It was a proud day 



-6 5 - 

for Lizzie when she saw them drill, in their little village, prepar 
ing to depart with their fine new uniforms, every man sitting 
his horse as a practiced rider. She had never seen so fine look- 
ing a ni.ii as Willie, as he rode in front, with his bright sabre 
drawn, on the largest and finest horse in the company. Mr. and 
Mrs. Campbell looked on with pride, but with sadness, as they 
thought how soon that fine young form might be laid in the dust 
marred by ghastly wounds. 

On their departure the company went rapidly north to join 
General Garnett who had been sent with a small army to try to 
rouse the people of the Northwestern Counties to the defense of 
the State against McClellan. But, alas ! the people were apathetic 
or sympathized with the enemy, and he received but few acces- 
sions to his force. Captain Buford's company and a company of 
cavalry from Greenbrier County, in what is now West Virginia, 
with about five hunddred infantry constituted the command of 
General Porterfield on the Upper Potomac. These troops were 
attacked, on the 2nd of June, by a large detachment of McClel- 
lan's army and fell back to Laurel Hill, where they were joined 
by Garnett, who left a strong detachment under Colonel Peg-ram, 
on Rich Mountain. All these troops had been sent by Governor 
Letcher with a special intent of defending the people and form- 
ing a nucleus around which they might rally. But they did not 
rally, ■ and instead of aiding the State troops furnished guides 
showing the safest way for attacking Pegram's strong position. 

On the nth of July the men under Garnett perceived a 
horseman riding towards them at great speed. On his arrival, 
they perceived that his neck and bosom were covered with blood. 
He was a messenger from Colonel Pegram telling that he was 
attacked by an overwhelming force and asking for aid. Many 
shots had been fired at this man while running the gauntlet of the 
enemy's line, only one taking effect, cutting the skin of the back 
of the neck. This was Waddy S. Bacon, a Virginian, aid to 
Colonel Pegram. He was a soldier of fortune, a remarkable man. 
He served in the Mexican war when a youth, then went to Cali- 



— 66 — 

fornia, where he made and lost a fortune. He then joined Walk- 
er's Nicaraugua expedition and was one of the officers condemned 
to be shot by the English, but released at the last moment. He 
survived the four years' service in the war in which he was now 
engaged, being desperately wounded in one of the last battles 
near Petersburg. After the war he again tried his fortune in the 
mines of the far West was unsuccessful, and returned to Virginia 
to marry the woman to whom he had been long engaged. He is 
now a peaceful farmer, a member of the Methodist Church. 

Pegram was driven from his position and most of his men 
captured, and Garnett was attacked next day and killed whilst 
attempting to rally his men. Nearly all his infantry were cap- 
tured or killed and th^ Greenbrier cavalry were scattered in every 
direction. Buford had drilled his men almost to perfection and 
held them well together. When he saw that all was lost and they 
were surrounded by the enemy, his command was, "men, keep 
in close column and follow me, charge." Sitting firmly on his 
powerful horse and wielding his sabre with stalwart arm he bore 
down all opposition and broke through the enemy's lines, losing 
only one of his gallant band. vSnch early disaster seemed calcu- 
lated to dampen the ardor of these fiery young men. but their 
leader was a man of undaunted and firm character. He spoke 
cheerfully and encouragingly to them and inspired them with 
hopes of better success on a larger field. He stopped not his 
retreat until he reached Geneial Johnston's camp at Winchester, 
whence he was sent on by him with a few more cavalry to join 
General Beauregard at Manassas. The infantry were conveyed to 
\hat point by rail. 

On reaching his destination, he was placed under the com 
mand of Captain Lay, who was commanding a squadron of horse, 
and took part in that great battle. This little body bore itself 
with great gallantry and efficiency, whenever there was an oppor- 
tunity for cavalry to ac~t, and Bnford's name was mentioned with 
honor in the report of his commander. 

At a late honr of the day of the battle, a small number of the 



-6 7 - 

enemy were observed to be unbroken. Captain Lay was com- 
manded to charge them. On this they commenced breaking, but 
one officer, a captain, stood his ground. Buford, who was in ad- 
vance of all the command, rode up and compelled him to surren- 
der. This officer, looking up as he surrendered his sword, ex- 
claimed, "Buford, as I live." He was immediately recognized by 
Buford, who replied, "Heath, you was the last man of my ac- 
quaintance I was expecting to meet " A ioose horse was secured 
and Heath placed upon it, his word of honor being pledged not to 
try to escape. Permission was given by the commanding officer 
to release him from restraint, on parol, Buford vouching for him. 

On the night after the battle, Buford hearing that Lamont 
was badly wounded, went co the building where he lay, accom- 
panied by Heath and Dr. Stoval, who had hastened to the scene 
of action where his son was engaged. Here they found Lamont 
desperately, and, it was thought fatally, wounded, and about 
twenty other young men more or less badly. 

Young Captain Davis, a nephew of the President, had just 
expired. They had been here but a short time, when no less a 
person than President Davis arrived. He was much affected at 
the death of his nephew, and tears were seen to roll down his 
furrowed cheeks. On his turning to speak words of cheer and 
comfort to the wounded, Lamont replied that it was sweet to die 
in such a cause. But he did not die. The old doctor was a man 
of consummate skill, and told them that with careful nursing he 
would pull through. It was arranged that Buford should give 
him all the time he could spare, and Heath agreed to stay with 
him all the time, as long as it might be necessary. 

There was great rejoicing at the victory, and many thought 
the war would soon close. Many volunteer companies went 
home, among them Buford, but he accepted the position of cap- 
tain in the regular Confederate forces, and Tom Jones, who would 
not leave him, joined the army as corporal. In about a month 
Buford, accompanied by Heath and Lamont, who was as yet very 
feeble, paid a visit to the old Buford homestead. Mrs. Campbell 



— 68 — 

was much affected on seeing her brother, and exclaimed, "O r 
brother, how could you join in trying to subjugate and ruin us?" 
Heath replied, "Sister, dear, that was farthest from my 
thoughts. I came to do you good, believing that ycur State would 
submit early and I thought my presence might be of service to 
my friends. However, I have been cured of my delusion and 
must make the most of my situation. I have come to the con- 
clusion that there will be a long war, and that I am better suited 
to the law than fighting, and if I get away will not return again 
in hostile array." He kept his word, and on being exchanged re- 
turned home, taking letters of introduction to Judge Buford, with 
whose family he soon became intimate. Dropping soldiering, he 
rose to eminence in his profession and to prominence as a Demo- 
cratic politician. He carried a letter from Damont to Letitia as- 
suring her of the steadfastness of his affection for her and faith in 
her fidelity to him 

The intercourse of Willie and Lizzie was of mingled pleasure 
and pain. His life was so bound up in her that he could but con- 
template their parting with grief. She loved him as her life, and 
was very poor, but would not have detained him at her side if i 
she could. Before the departure of this company, John Preston, 
who had been present in the battle in Col. Carson's Washington 
County regiment, paid them a short visit. He still displayed that 
reckless character that had characterised him when a boy. He 
was exultant over the great victory, affirming that they would 
whip out the Yankees in a short time. He did not gain the es- 
teem of either Lamont or Heath, who were thorough gentlemen, 
and who, notwithstanding they had been opposed in battle, soon 
became fast friends. Although a discerning person might easily 
perceive the attachment of Willie and Lizzie, and doubtless Pres- 
ton was aware of it, he paid Lizzie very marked attention which 
was coldly received by her. This caused a resentment on his 
part which he long cherished, being of a disposition not to soon 
forget anv wound to his vanity. 



-6 9 - 



CHAPTER XVII. 

After the battle of Manassas, the two opposing armies lay 
inactive for many months. This was very trying to Buford. He 
had soon formed the acquaintance of Gen. Early, an old friend of 
his father, and received a captain's commission in the Twenty- 
fourth Virginia Regiment, a part of his brigade. Gen. Early, 
like Judge Buford, had been a strong union man, and in the con- 
vention of which he was a member, was one of the minority vot- 
ing against the ordinance of secession, but when his State was 
attacked, was one of the first to take up arms in her defense. Be- 
ing assigned to the defense of the valley, he was only engaged 
during the summer in some unimportaut skirmishes. 

In March, 1862, Buford paid a visit to his old home. That 
part of Virginia was free from the tread of armies and remained 
so almost to the last. Everything was going on in the old way, 
though people were beginning to be pinched for want of money; 
and sugar and coffee were getting to be very scarce. A large 
area had been sown in wheat, and preparation was going on for a 
large corn and sorghum crop. The old disused looms and spin- 
ning wheels were repaired, and the women were busy making 
cloth. The people were hopeful and prepared to make great sac- 
rifices. James Campbell had not joined the army as a soldier, 
but was employed by the Government in the commissary depart- 
ment of his section and was frequently absent from home, so that 
the two, Mrs. Campbell and Lizzie, were often left with no white 
man for a protector but the overseer whose residence was more 
than half a mile distant. 'But they were women with brave heart?, 
and the two younger ladies had learned to shoot with gun and 
pistol. 

Early in April Captain Buford received a peremptory sum- 
mons to join his command. He instantly obeyed, and his brigade 
was sent to the peninsula and placed in D. H. Hill's division. 
Here, his regiment, in conjunction with the Fifth North Carolina, 



made one of the most daring charges in the history of the war. 
Gen. Early had been so badly wounded that he had to leave the 
field. Near Williamsburg some works had been thrown up by 
Gen. Magruder, and were called Fort Magruder. The enemy now 
occupied a position near these works, which had been abandoned 
by the Confederates. They had a strong battery of artillery. 
The two regiments spoken of under the command of Col. 
McCrae, of North Carolina, attacked them and drove them, al- 
though twice their number, to the shelter of their works, and 
would have captured them if they had been reinforced instead of 
being recalled. In their retrograde movement about a hundred 
of them, including Bu ford's friend, Lieut. Alfred Williams, were 
taken prisoners. In speaking of this affair to Dr. Cullen, left in 
charge of the Confederate wounded, Gen. Hancock said, these 
two regiments deserve to have the word immortal inscribed on 
their banners. Buford was highly commended for his gallantry 
by his commander, and from this time began to be well known 
in the armies of the Confederacy. He was engaged continuously 
in the retrograde move until a stand was finally made before 
Richmond. After the dreadful seven days fight, in which his di- 
vision, brigade and regiment all took a conspicuous part, he was 
promoted to the rank of. Major. But hardship, exposure and the 
miasma of the swamps were too much for even his strong consti- 
tution, and he became dangerously ill. After many days of un- 
consciousness, after a long sleep, he recovered the use of his fac- 
ulties, and, much to his surprise, saw Lydia Nelson sitting near 
engaged in sewing. He said nothing, being puzzled as to where 
lie \ as, and did not realize his situation until he saw Tom Jones 
come in dressed in Confederate uniform. This faithful friend had 
obtained permission to narse him. On his addressing him in a 
rational manner, Tom was much rejoiced. He exclaimed, "why 
W'illie, I believe you will come out of this all light." Tom was 
punctiliously correct when on duty, but when off addressed his 
superior as familiarly as when they were boys. 

Miss Nelson, when the war broke out, was employed as a 



71 



teacher in a public school in Indiana at a good salary; but then, 
believing- it be her duty to aid her own people, she left to become 
a hospital nurse. In his delirium Buford frequently called upon 
Lizzie, and Miss Nelson relinquished all hope of gaining his af- 
fection. Her hand had been sought by a young merchant of In- 
diana, and she had been partly influenced in rejecting him by a 
lingering affection for Willie Buford, and partly because Mr. Ed- 
wards was not in sympathy with the action of her State, she be- 
ing thoroughly in sympathy with the political opinions of her 
father. She had nursed her patient with the tenderest care, and 
was greatly rejoiced, when, on the arrival of the doctor, she was 
assured that the crisis was passed, and that, without an accident, 
he would soon be well. Malarial diseases yield more readily to 
proper medicine than any other maladies of so grave a character, 
and in the young and vigorous, frequently leave no trace behind. 
So Buford was convalescent in a few days and went home on a 
furlough, accompanied by Tom. 

On the train there were but were but few passengers, so they 
could converse uninterruptedly. Buford observed, "do you know, 
Tom, that although we have gained a great victory, I begin to 
fear that we will ultimately fail. I begin to see signs of exhaus- 
tion on our part, and the battle of Shiloh and the opening of the 
Mississippi River to the gunboats of the enemy has laid bare a 
great deal of our territory. I sometimes think I was wrong in 
urging you and others to embark in the cause ot the Confederacy, 
as I had a better opportunity to know the great power and re- 
sources of the North." Tom replied, "I shall never blame you, 
whatever may happen. I do not know much of politics and his- 
tory and all that, but I believe our cause is just, and intend to 
fight the Yankees as long as I can tote a gun." "Well," he re- 
plied, "we are embarked together on this voyage and must stick 
to the ship to the end." 

On their arrival at home, they found the people much elated 
over the repulse of the enemy at Richmond and disposed to lion- 
ize them both. Tom received invitations to visit at houses where 



— 72 — 

he had never been, as it was generally known that he had con- 
dueled himself with great bravery, and had obtained the position 
of sergeant, and Major Buford was regarded as the pride of the 
County. They were beginning to be pinched in their living, but 
had as yet suffered no real privations. James Campbell got home 
only a few days before them, as he bore arms for a short time on 
the south side of James River, but had been engaged in no gen- 
eral battle. Tom's father had reformed, been restored to the 
church, and was hard at work. Mrs. Campbell and Lizzie were 
very hopeful and rejoiced at Willie's brilliant career. Mrs, 
Campbell was a thorough Southern woman in feeling and con- 
tributed all in her power to the success of her cause. She exer- 
cised a great influence over her husband, who had greatly im- 
proved himself by reading and was now one of the leading men 
of his section. 

When it was ascertained that Major Buford was recovered, 
he received a commission to raise a troop of cavalry, as the army 
was in great need of that arm to repel numerous raids that were 
now being made. He succeeded in raising and mounting three 
hundred men. Tom was permitted to exchange into his com- 
mand. It was learned that John Preston was a captain under 
Mosby, and Lamont was a piisoner. Buford received a letter from 
his father, which had been sent to Mr. Campbell. In it was no 
word of reproach for his action, but an exhortation to conduct 
himself as an honorable man in the path he had chosen. He had 
prospered in business beyond his expectation. He also wrote 
that Letitia was now gone to visit Lamont, in prison, accom- 
panied by Heath. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Pope had now taken command of Federal army in Northern 
Virginia and conducted it in a manner far different from McClel- 
lan. The last named General did not interfere with private 
property and did not interrupt private citizens who were living 



peaceably. Pope, on the other hand, inaugurated a reign oi tel 
ror wherever he went. He supplied his ami) by pillage, arrested 
and shot peaceable men on the slightest pretext, and destroyed 
their property. He issued an order similar to the one issued by 
Burbridge in Kentucky, copied from the Turkish custom. By 
this order, all persons not of approved loyalty to the United 
States Government, living within five miles of the place where 
any outrage was committed en a Union man, were lit Id responsi- 
ble and were compelled to make restitution or be punished by 
military law. This order, so atrocious in its character, could not 
be enforced in Kentucky, as that State adhered to the Union, and 
the order had the abhorence of all parties, and has made the 
name of Burbridge detestable in his State to this day. Burbridge 
and Pope are considered to have been tyrants and despots. If 
their a(5ls are censurable, as cruel and opposed to the usages of 
modern war, they should not bear the blame alone. 

There was a man behind them and above them responsible 
for their acts. Abraham Lincoln is considered by many oi the 
American people as almost a God; and many persons differing, 
widely from him politically are disposed to look on him as a great 
and good man. He was successful, and was murde:ed whilst 
speaking many kind words about a conquered people. But we 
should not be carried away by sentiment; we should estimate his 
character by his acts, as we estimate the character of Bonaparte 
or Cromwell He was Commander-in-chief of the armies, and 
knew daily of the acts of Pope and Burbridge. He was clothed 
with absolute power, and with a stroke of the pen could have 
stopped their atrocious proceedings, yet history records no word 
of censure, from him, of their acts. Pope enforced his orders in 
full, wherever he was able, and sent out bodies of horse in every 
direction. Buford was sent to encounter these, and performed 
many brilliant exploits. He rescued many homes from pillage, 
frequently coming upon the enemy in their acts of depradation. 
As Jackson hastened to meet Pope, the marauders were driven 
in before him. 



— 74 — 

The name of Valley of Virginia is given to that section lying; 
between the Bine Ridge and the main Alleghany range north of 
the James River. It is watered by the Potomac and its tribu- 
taries. In it are low grounds and level stretches of land as rich 
as any in the world. Before the war it was a very prosperous 
country. Its agricultural products were mostly grain and hay ; 
and stock raising was carried on to a considerable extent. The 
pe >ple differed widely in manners, customs and speech from those 
of Southern Virginia. It was orignally settled by Protestant 
Irish, mostly Presbyterians, and by Dutch and Germans, gener- 
ally Dunkards and Lutherans. They were generally good and 
prosperous farmers, intent on improving their lands and increas- 
ing the fertility of their soil. It is said that here the first red 
clover was sown in America. Many of the country people were 
wry ignorant, but there were country gentlemen highly edu- 
cated and the towns of Lexington, Staunton and Winchester 
were noted for their intelligence and refinement. There were 
comparatively few slaves in this section. There was a large 
Union element among the people; but after the act of secession, 
they were generally loyal, to the State. There being here so 
much grain and cattle, it was very important for the Confederates 
to hold this country. The Southern soldiers here, at this time, 
fared well, the people being willing to divide their substance 
with them. Although they had been greatly harrassed, yet they 
had not been overtaken, by that sweeping desolation that after- 
wards befell them. 

One evening, Buford's command encountered a considerable . 
body of cavalry on the farm of a Mr. McCue, who were loading 
their wagons with corn, hay and bacon. They charged upon 
them, scattering them in every direction and taking their wagons 
and a few prisoners. After their pickets were placed, the men 
took shelter in a large barn, and Buford and some of his officers 
accepted an invitation to spend the evening with the family. The 
old gentleman had three sons with Jackson, in whom he had the 
most unbounded confidence, and was very hopeful as to the sue- 



75 



cess of the Southern cause. His two young daughters chatted 
gaily and sang and played on the piano, so that an observer un- 
acquainted with the circumstances surrounding them, looking on 
this peaceful scene, would not suppose that they were living in 
the midst of a tragedy, and standing, as it were, on the verge of a 
precipice. As the officers left, one of them remarked, "I think I 
hear the distant tramp of horses, and should not wonder if the 
enemy reinforces and attacks us before day." When all is still, 
the sound made by cavalry on the march can be heard by the at- 
tentive ear at a great distances. Buford placed his ear near the 
ground, and after a few minutes, replied, "You are right, and we 
must prepare to receive them, but I do not think they will attack 
before delight. We must let the men sleep awhile, and we must 
keep watch until it is time to awaken them." Accordingly they 
went around to all the pickets and gave them warning to be very 
careful. Before day, the men were quietly aroused, the horses 
saddled and bridled, and all f. e men were placed in position in 
the barn, and in places protected by the sheds near it. On the 
first dawn of day, the pickets discharged their guns and ran in > 
and they were soon followed by full three hundred cavalrymen in 
full charge, who fully expected to surprise their enemy, but in- 
stead of this, were met by a destructive fire from a hidden foe. 
Seeing the situation at a glance, the commander issued an order 
to retreat. Buford would not permit a pursuit, not knowing the 
strength of the enemy. Although very daring, he was a very 
prudent commander. The dead and wounded were left to the 
care of Mr. McCue and his laborers 

Buford's command was employed the balance of the year in 
the valley and the southwestern parts of the State in repelling 
raids and annoying the enemy. It accompanied Lee, under the 
command of Stuart, into Pennsylvania, and was present at the 
battle of Gettysburg. After Lee's retreat, it was sent into South- 
western Virginia, where it was successful, in company with Mos* 
by's command, in repelling the raids of Toland and Averill. 

In the autumn of 1863, the cause of the Confederacy began 



- 7 6- 

Eo be very gloomy, and there was great despondency in Virginia, 
but the spirit of the people was not broken, and they were un- 
shaken in theii resolve of defense to the last. 

On a pleasant October afternoon of this year, in the yard of 
the Libby prison, there were sitting conversing, three persons,. 
1 >octor Jones, the head surgeon of the prison, Miss Uydia Nelson,. 
a visiting nurse, and Captain Edwards, of Indiana, a prisoner. 
The captain was pale and haggard, showing traces of recent ill- 
ness and marks oi mental suffering on his countenance. He was 
quite bitter in his remarks against his government for refusing to 
exchange prisoners Miss Nelson had been a particular friend of 
his during her stay in Indiana, and had come to visit him in 
prison. 

The doctor rer.arked, "Captain, from the expression of your 
opinion on this subject and on the conduct of the war, I marvel 
that you ever joined the Union army in an attack on us." 

The captain replied, "However much I dislike the Republi- 
can party and the conducl: of the war, I think that if I weie still 
free, I would continue in the army until all opposition to the 
government should cease. But I despair of gaining my freedom 
until the end of the war, and God only knows when that will be, 
and for this I blame my government. You asked me why I 
joined the army; I will tell you. I deemed the continued union 
of all the States as vital, necessary to the very existence of our 
government, and that all other questions were subordinate to 
this. If we were once to allow one or any number of States to 
secede, it would be the end of the United States. Human nature 
is such that, if this was allowed, other States would soon find 
cause foi dissatisfaction and secession, and this continent would 
-Mm be occupied by a multitude of weak and warring powers, 
and general anarchy would ensue. I do not hold that the gov- 
ernment has the right to destroy a State or to interfere with its 
autonomy, but I do hold that it has the right to compel it to ful- 
fill its Federal obligations. The Union was made to be perpetual, 
and only one government has been acknowledged by foreign 



—77- 

powers, since the formation of the present constitution. We would 
be derelict to our duty if we were to be the first to acknowledge a 
separate power in what was once a part of ourselves. The old 
Confederacy was styled a perpetual union, and the design of our 
present constitution was to form a more perfect union, hence it is 
evident that the design of its framers was that the union should 
be indisolluble. It is true that, ii the Southern States and peo- 
ple had been greatly aggrieved and were fighting for liberty, I 
would not have opposed them, believing, as I do, that the liberty 
of a people is paramount to every other consideration. But you 
may say, some of the Northern States broke their obligations to 
the constitution in preventing the rendition of fugitive slaves. 
True, but the Federal government had proved itself equal to the 
occasion, in promptly passing the fugitive slave law, thus com- 
pelling the States to fulfill their constitutional obligations I 
much lament the election of Lincoln, but this was not a sufficient 
cause for secession, as it was caused by a division among the 
States rights men, and the Republicans were a minority in Con- 
gress before the withdrawal of the Southern members, who, by 
their action, put it out of the power of their friends in the North 
to help them As to the territorial question, this was virtual ly 
settled years ago, as there was no Territory left where it was pos- 
sible to introduce slavery. Look at the map and see." 

The doctor replied, "Much of what you have said is true, 
and I was opposed to secession, at the time it was effected, as a 
matter of policy ; but I still think it was an unrighteous thing in 
your government to wage war upon us. But the wicked often 
succeed in this world, and I now think there is no hope of our 
gaining our independence. I think you will soon regain your 
liberty, by the ending of the war, and I hope there are many 
men in the North, like you, who will so use their influence that 
we be not entirely ruined. My views are very peculiar, as I have 
regarded our political situation as a philosopher and not as a pol- 
itician. I hold that there was sufficient cause for a separation of 
the States, if the seceding States had been sufficiently powerful 



-7S- 

to make it probable that they could achieve their independence. 
T was always of opinion that if war should result from our at- 
tempt at separation, the South would be surely subjugated. I 
believe thct wars are hardly ever justifiable. Desiring a separation 
our members should have remained in Congress and labored for 
years, if necessary, to obtain a peaceful separation. The reason 
why I always thought that we could not succeed by war was that 
the odds against us, nearly four to one, was too great. Again, 
the negro population amongst lis is an element of weakness, and 
not of strength. There are very few instances in history of a 
part of a country desiring a separation being able to maintain it- 
self without foreign aid. Our ancestors would have been surely 
subjugated by Great Britian, if they had not been aided by France 
and Spain. There is very little probability of the Southern 
States obtaining foreign aid, as we have not the sympathies of 
any European nation, all of them being opposed to slavery. In 
this I think they are wrong, believing as I do that the proper 
position of the African, when he lives in larye numbers among 
white people, is one of subordination. But other people do not 
think so, and we cannot afford to brave the prejudices of the 
world. In addition to these advantages possessed b\ your sec- 
tion over ours, the prestige of being the older government and 
thus enabled to borrow money largely, with the possession of a 
navy, which we have not, and all the large manufactories, gives 
you such a preponderance that our cause is hopeless. When all 
is over you will praise your statesmen as very wise, in triumph- 
ing over our folly, and your generals as very able, and your sol- 
diers as very brave, in triumphing oyer our weakness. You will 
probably not emulate the good taste of the Romans who allowed 
no man to triumph over victories won in a civil war. I will now 
give you some reasons why a separation, if attainable, would be 
desirable, and why the war, on your part, is an unrighteous one. 
I do not believe that a peaceful separation would have been at- 
tended with those direful results some persons imagine. Belgium 
and Holland, two small contiguous countries, were united under 



— 79 — 

one government, a liberal one for Europe. They were so situated 
that their interests seemed identical. But the two people differed 
in manners, customs and religion. They separated peaceably, 
and since then both have prospered, more so probably than if 
they had remained in an unwilling union. Is it not probable 
that, if we had separated peaceably, both sections would have 
prospered? What can be gained by war to compensate for the 
million of lives lost, of the young and brave, the miseries of the 
prison, the desolation of homes, the bringing of poverty to hun- 
dreds of thousands and the increase of vice and crime, the conse- 
quence of all wars. Although the people of both sections were 
ardently attached to the union, from habit and tradition, the at- 
tachment was to the name, or, I may say, abstraction, and not to 
each other. I may truthfully say that the people of the two sec- 
tions disliked each other more than they disliked any ioreign 
people. In manners, customs and modes of thought they differed 
widely. The largest Christian sects had divided. A united South, 
aided by a Northern minority, had hitherto been able to measur- 
ably protect Southern interests. This gave great offense to the 
Northern majority, and they averred that the government was 
run by the dictation of a pro-slavery oligarchy, when the South- 
ern people only demanded their constitutional rights. It does 
not matter whether their demands were in the abstract right or 
not, they were certainly constitutional, written in the bond that 
united the States. What you have said as to the danger of per- 
mitting a State to withdraw at will is doubtless true, but the 
case is different, when we consider that the States wishing to 
withdraw are numerous, occupy a large extent of territory, and 
differ widely from you in political opinions. To coerce a people 
so situated is opposed to American ideas derived from our revolu- 
tionary fathers. As to the right of secession, can any sane man 
conversant with our history believe that the constitution of the 
United States would have ever been adopted by even nine States, 
if that instrument had expressly denied the right of a State to 
secede? If, before its adoption, Virginians had been assured and 



- So — 

had believed that any attempt on her part to withdraw from a 
union she had voluntarily entered would be speedily followed by 
a devastating- war upon her, not one oi her citizens would have 
voted to enter the Union. Indeed Virginia and New York, in 
their act of acceptance, expressly retained this right. That the 
war against us is unrighteous I hold, because no war is justifiable 
for a nation, except in defense of its safety or honor, neither of 
which was threatened by us. The war was commenced before 
the secession of Virginia, ever proverbial for her honor, who 
would neither have attacked you nor permitted an attack 
through her territory without due notice. She had submitted the 
question of union or secession to a vote of her people. That this 
vote was fairly taken is beyond question. Before the result was 
announced or even completed, your armies were poured into her 
territory ; you have attacked a people who wished to live on 
friendly terms with you ; you have killed our people who resisted 
you, burned our dwellings, ravaged our fields and openly violated 
your own constitution. If we were wrong in seceding, the acts 
of your government since that event, go far towards justifying 
our course. Calling us revolutionists, you are revolutionists 
yourselves ; witness the erection of West Virginia into a State 
without shadow of constitutional authority Your President, 
from the day of his inauguration, has assumed dictational powers, 
commencing a war and disregarding the writ of habeas corpus 
without the authority of Congress." 

The captain replied, "You do not mean to say that the Pres- 
ident should have sat still and permitted secession to be consum- 
mated and possibly Washington taken before Congress could 
come together ?" 

The doctor replied, "Scarcely any circumstances can justify 
a public official in violating his oath of office. In this case there 
was 110 danger of the Confederates invading the adhering States, 
and the President's illegal a<fts hastened, if they did not cause, as 
I believe they did, the secession of Virginia, North Carolina, 
Tennessee and Arkansas. Mr. Lincoln, though personally an 



— 3i — 

amiable and honest man, and though he succeeded in crushing 
us, can never go down in history as a great and incorruptible 
man like Washington, Hambden and many worthies of England 
and America, because he has not taken the constitution of his 
•country for his guide and has sactioned outrages rarely paralleled 
In civilized war. For many of his acts he has only the tyrant's 
plea, supposed necessity. He more resembles Caesar, Bonaparte, 
Cromwell, and I may say, Danton and Robespierre, the one re- 
markable for his kindness of heart, the other for incorruptible 
integrity, yet under the influence of fanaticism committing deeds 
that filled the world with horror. I think it highly probable that 
Lincoln will be considered by the next generation one of the 
greatest and best of men, inasmuch as his policy will be success- 
ful, — but such will not be the verdict of posterity. He is person- 
ally amiable, and is professed of great mental capacity ; but under 
the false idea that the end justifies the means, he has disregarded 
his oath of office, and violated the constitution. He does not 
pause to inquire whether or not the ends proposed, the abolition 
of slavery and the preservation of the union, are worth the price 
of their attainment, the slaughter and ruin of millions and the 
overthrow of the constitution of his country. For these reason I 
class him with fanatics. If Lincoln receive the veneration of the 
American people, it does not follow that he is entitled to it, when 
we remember that Caesar was worshipped as a God b\ the Ro- 
mans, and Bonaparte was long the idol of the French " 

"Well, doctor, I, at least, will never be able to make war on 
you again," replied the captain, "but 1 still think we had the 
plea of defending the existence of our government and the na- 
tional honor, but I must confess that if I had been a citizen of 
Virginia I would probably have acted as you have done. We are 
all the creatures of circumstances, and, however we may boast ot 
our judgment, we are greatly influenced by the opinions of those 
with whom we come in contact. I feel no bitterness against the 
Southern people, and hope to see the war soon ended with the 
least possible injury to them. From what I read ot the progress 



— S'z — 

of events I believe it is now decided that we shall have no sepa- 
ration, and I think both sides should divest themselves of passion 
and try to have as kindly feelings as possible to each other, and, 
when the war is over, co-operate for the good of the whole conn- 
try." On this the doctor gave him his hand and the conversa- 
tion closed. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

In the autumn of 1863, John Preston accompanied a portion 
of Mosby's command, in which he was a captain, in a raid into 
\\\st Virginia. He had become dissipated, and, having no money 
but the Confederate notes he was debarred from indulgences that 
had become second nature to him. Believing that West Virginia, 
in which lay all his father's property, was hopelessly lost to the 
State and the Confederacy, he was meditating desertion of his 
cause. As they approached his father's residence they came 
upon a scene of desolation. Fences were down, and the cattle 
that were left were wandering at will with none to guard them. 
He found that all the yonngmen were absent in one or the other 
of the armies, or vvere bushwhacking, and only a few old men 
left to till the soil with the help of the women. 

His father's mansion was occupied by an old couple left in 
charge. From them he ascertained that the family had moved 
to Abingdon, his father having obtained a considerable amount 
of money from a mortgage on his lands. Discipline was now be- 
coming loose in the Confederate armies, and Preston readily ob- 
tained a permit to visit his family only about fifty miles distant. 
Abingdon is the oldest town in Southwestern Virginia, and is 
pleasantly situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, some in 
sight being among the highest in the Apalachian chain. It is 
near the Tennessee line and at no great distance from North Car- 
olina, West Virginia and Kentucky. From the summit of some 
of the highest peaks portions of all these States are at the same 
time visible. Much of the land of Washington, the county in 



-3.3- 

which the town is situated, is fertile and high priced. Here 
many families from the cotton States used to spend their sum- 
mers, the climate being pleasant and healthful Many of the res- 
idents were persons of wealth and leisure, belonging to families 
of distinction, Johnstons, Floyds, Triggs and Prestons, who were 
themselves related to many noted people in the Carol inas, East- 
ern Virginia and Kentucky. The society was intelligent and re- 
fined, the people paying great attention to the education of their 
children, there being near Emory and Henry Colleges for males, 
and the Martha Washington Female College, also in the. town 
schools of high grade 

The people were nearly all loyal to the State. The negroes, 
though few as compared with the numbers in Eastern Virginia, 
were more numerous than in an)- other county west of the Alle- 
ghanies. This place as yet had been nearly exempt from the in- 
cursions of the enemy, and was not suffering as many other parts 
of the State. There was plenty of grain and hay and an abund- 
ance of cattle. The people had the wool from their own sheep, 
and cotton could yet be procured so there was no want of cloth- 
ing, as the women wove the cloth at home. Sorghum and the 
sugar maple supplied them with sweetening. No coffee could be 
obtained, except at enormous cost, which was a great depriva- 
tion, mountaineers everywhere being inveterate coffee drinkers. 
Many of these people were yet sanguine in the hope of gaining 
their independence, and Piestou was welcomed with open arms. 

His mother and sisters were delighted to see him, and proud 
of his career as a soldier, which, so far as the public knew, was 
honorable, his vices being only known to officers near him. His 
father was morose and dissatisfied, abusing all parties, Davis, 
Lincoln, and especially the government of West Virginia. He 
remained in the town about tvvo weeks in a round of gaiety and 
festivity, for people will dance and amuse themselves, however 
gloomy the prospect before them. Before his departure he took 
all the money he could persuade his mother to give him. He 
procured a suit of citizens clothes, and coming to a dense forest 



— 84 — 

deposited his Confederate uniform in a hollow tree and turned 
his face to the North. After traveling many days, mostly 
through forests and in rough mountain paths, and frequently 
having to swim rivers, and spend his nights in the huts of the 
mountaineers, he arrived at Wheeling and offered his services to 
the authorities. He was gladly received, as many prominent peo- 
ple knew of his father and his large possessions, and was ten- 
dered the commission of captain to raise a company of partisan 
rangers. In this he was successful, soon having under his com- 
mand more than a hundred men West Virginians, Pennsylvan- 
ians and Kentuckians. We shall meet with him again before the 
end of this story. 

CHAPTER XX. 

At the close of the campaigns of 1863, it seemed that the 
Confederacy could survive but a few months, but the evenls of 
the spring and early summer of 1864 gave some hopes to its 
friends. Never had her soldiers fought more bravely nor con- 
tended so successfully against overwhelming odds. In Florida, 
Louisiana and Mississippi the enemy had been driven back, and 
the Confederates had assumed the aggressive in Arkansas, and 
even in Missouri, and Lee was making the most splendid defen- 
sive campaign known in history. But the heroism of an army 
fighting absolutely without pay and in dire need of food and 
clothing could not long resist four times their number, abundant- 
ly supplied with every necessity. Yet these successes gave hopes 
to the otherwise despondent, and some who had despaired of in- 
dependence had some hopes of McClellan's election to the Presi- 
dency, and hoped that by prolonging the contest, until he should 
take his seat, more favorable terms could be obtained for the 
South than could be hoped for from the administration in power. 
At this time many counties of Virginia, in the Southern 
Piedmont region, had escaped the presence of an enemy, among 
them the county in which Judge Buford had resided. James 



-85 — 

Campbell and his countymen had not suffered for the necessaries 
of life. He had continued to raise large crops on Judge Buford's 
lands, a large portion going annually to feed the army. He and 
his wife led as peaceful a life as though there had been no war 
He had occasionally been in active service, when called on in an 
emergency, but had been mostly employed by the State as an 
agent in collecting supplies for the army, and was seldom long 
from home. His wife was busy with her, domestic life, the care 
of her children and her Sunday-school, and was more contented 
and happy than it would seem possible under the circumstances. 
Lizzie made her home with them. She saw but little company. 
Her reading and music were great sources of pleasure to her, and 
the news constantly received from the army of course giving a 
coloring most favorable to the Confederacy, gave sufficient ex- 
citement and topics for conversation to relieve the dullness of 
her sequestered life. She was hopeful of the success of the 
Southern cause. Her anxiety about Willie was mingled with 
pride at his brilliant career. 

When Hunter, Crook and Averill made their incursions go- 
ing as far as Lynchburg, this family was nearer to hostile forces 
than they had ever been before. The negroes, who, up to this 
time, had been very quiet, heard of their approach, and began to 
be much excited. About the time of the repulse of the these 
commanders, one morning, Sam was missing, and with him a 
very fine young horse belonging to Major Buford, intended by 
him for his own use in the cavalry. He had gone to join the 
Yankees. After riding all night, about nine o'clock in the morn- 
ing, he came into the main road leading from Lynchburg to Ten- 
nessee, and in a short time encountered a body of about fifty 
horsemen whom he recognized as belonging to the Federal army 
from their uniforms. Riding up to them, he seemed much as* 
tonished at seeing their leader, exclaiming, "Dis you, Mars John? 
what you doin' wid de Yankees?'' 

This officer replied, ' who in the h are you, and what are 

you doing riding that fine animal?" 



— 86 — 

Sam replied, "Lor' don't you know Sam, dat you used to see 
at your uncle, Judge Buford's?" 

"O, yes," he replied, "I know you now, but what are you 
doing here ?" 

"I has come to jine de Yankees and git my freedom ; I heard 
dey was gwine to set all de niggers free," said Sam. 

"And so we are," said Preston, for it was he, "but you get 
down and give me that horse. Here, Smith, take my horse and 
give this nigger yours, he is about the poorest hack we have. 
Xow, Sam," he added, "mount and we will carry you to the land 
of freedom. By the way, have you seen anything lately of my 
good cousin Willie?" 

"No sah," said Sam, "he aint been 'bout here for some time, 
and I don't want to see him, and I spec you so too, he is mighty 
nghtin' man, and alwas gits de best of it."' 

Preston, who was familiar with all this country, on the re- 
pulse of Averill to whose command he had been attached, had 
straggled away, and now contemplated a profitable little raid on 
his own account. He knew that the Southern Piedmont region 
and Western North Carolina had not suffered from invasion and 
contained a great deal ci valuable property that couid be easily 
carried away. Besides lie calculated to receive a large ransom 
from persons to keep him from burning their houses. Much of 
this section lay west and south of and at a considerable distance 
from any railroad. He thought he might safely raid those sec- 
tions by traveling rapidly through the counties of Patrick. Henry 
and Franklin, and from thence go into North Carolina. From 
thence he supposed it would be easy to escape into East Tennes- 
see, as he could procure guides through the mountain passes 
from among the inhabitants, many of whom were staunch union 
men. He stopped at Buford's tavern and pressed in a bountiful 
dinner for his men and food for his horses. He was recognized 
by the old man, and was berated by him in no measured terms 
for his course of conduct, and was told that it was a matter of 
grief and shame to him that any one connected to him by ties of 



-8 7 - 

blood should so adt. On being asked by some of the parly, if he 
had seen any of the rebel soldiers lately, the old gentleman re- 
plied, "do you think I would tell you if I had? I would be shot 
in my tracks before I would give you any information." 

They had been gone but a few hours and some of his neigh- 
bors, standing in front of his gate with Captain Buford, saw in 
the northwest, a body of cavalry slowly winding their way down 
the mountain. On his attention being called to them, he re- 
marked, "The Lord deliver us from any more Yankees." On a 
nearer approach they were recognized as Confederates, and when 
the head of the column arrived, Captain Buford, on meeting their 
leader, exclaimed, "as I live, it is Willie. I never was so glad to 
see a man in my life. Why that rascally cousin of yours, John 
Preston, with his company, has just left. I think he is making a 
raid on his old friends, and, as he has one of your father's negroes 
with him, I think he intends visiting your house." 

On this, Major Buford was very anxious to pursue, but the 
old man said, "Not yet. You and your men and horses are tired. 
The rascals have nearly cleaned me out, but I will hustle around 
and get you something to eat." 

The Major saw che necessity for this and curbed his impa- 
tience, while his men and his horses were taking some rest and 
refreshment. After resting more than an hour, he sent out two 
scouts on the swiftest horses he had, who were to reconnoiter and 
be very careful not to be seen by the enemy. His force consisted 
of about one hundred and fifty men. 

On the morning after the events related above, Preston with 
his company, arrived at the Buford homestead, much to the sur- 
prise of its occupants. The white persons were James Campbell 
and wife and mother, and his two sisters, Lizzie and Mrs. Taylor, 
the husband of the latter being absent as chaplain in the army. 
Mr. Campbell was put under guard, and the soldiers proceeded to 
plunder the house. They found but little money, but quite a 
quantity of silver plate, which they proceeded to appropriate to 
their own use. They also took everything valuable that could 



be carried away, and exchanged their wearied horses for the best 
they could find on the place. They found in the cellar a supply 
of brandy and wine, and many soon became intoxicated Some 
became insulting to the ladies, and Preston still resenting the 
cool treatment he had received lrom Lizzie years before, asked 
her where her hero and protestor, Major Buford, was. He said 
he had no doubt been killed or taken prisoner, and she had better 
go with him for consolation. Sam, under the influence of 
drink and emboldened by the language of his commander, was 
very impudent, and told the ladies he was now as good as Mars 
Willie, as he still called him from habit. He went so far as to 
put his hand on Lizzie without rebuke from the Captain, when a 
tall Kentuckian, a sergeant, grasped him by the throat and threw 
him back. Sam, on this, made at him with his fists, when he 
drew a long keen knife, and would have soon made an end of 
him if others had not interfered. 

Preston now ordered the arrest of the Kentuckian, when the 
Lieutenant a Pennsylvanian. a cool, quiet and daring man, came 
forward and said, "Come, Cap, this has gone far enough ; our 
men are a pretty hard set, but won't stand to see ladies insulted 
by negroes." 

He remarked to Sam, "you are now free, but if you don't 
behave we will hang you to a limb." 

After a while they became quiet and assembled in the yard 
to depart with their booty, but a sudden tramping of horses was 
heard, and they found themselves surrounded by a body of cav-. 
airy. Buford, from his knowledge ol the place, had been able to 
approach very near to the house, without his presence being de- 
tected. A single shot was fired, by whom none seemed to know, 
and John Preston fell dead, shot through the brain. It was after- 
wards ascertained that the shot was fired by the young man 
whom we have before met, as one of his fathers employees, and 
whom he had maltreated and insulted on m re than one occa- 
sion. Sam, on trying to sneak away, was recognized and brought 
back by Tom Jones. All were rejoiced to see Major Buford and 



— 89 — 

his men. Lizzie, though a woman of courage, and firmness, was 
almost prostrated by the trials she had undergone, and fell faint- 
ing into Buford's arms. He now came to the resolution of unit- 
ing his destiny with hers, if she was willing, thinking that he 
could thus better protect her from the dangers that were thickening 
around them. On his mentioning it to her, she agreed to be en- 
tirely guided by his judgment. When inquiry was made about 
the doings of the prisoners, and Sam's conduct was known, a de- 
tail of men was sent to hang him immediately. As he was led 
off, with the indifference to life characteristic of the negro, he 
said, "Go on with your hanging, boys, it ain't worth while to say 
anything to the Captain ; when he makes up his mind to do any- 
thing he is sure to do it. I has been free two days anyhow." 

The next day the body of John Preston was deposited in the 
old graveyard of his maternal ancestors The neighbors, for 
miles around, assembled on the occasion, and were addressed in a 
feeling manner by old Mr. Creath, now bent by age and sorrow, 
having recently lost a fine promising grandson in the army. He 
remained all night, and early in the morning uniled Willie and 
Lizzie in marriage. It was determined to parole all the prisoners 
but the lieutenants and the orderly sergeant, the Confederate 
prisons containing more prisoners than could be fed. When ad- 
dressing the prisoners, he told them if justice was done they 
would all be hanged, and he would do it, were it not from fear of 
retaliation on Southern prisoners. "And now," he went on. "if 
I parole you, you will soon be back fighting us again." 

The Kentuckian we have mention, replied, '"You need have 
no fear of me, I am tired of this war. I have a good mother and 
nice sisters at home, and have no use for men that hurt or insult 
women. My mother told me to go and fight for the Union and 
the Constitution, and she is no doubt proud of her soldier boy, 
not knowing what I have come to. At first I fought for what I 
thought was right, but that was long ago. Ever since I joined 
that man there lying dead, we have been after nothing but plun- 
der, and I have seen so much that if I thought you would have 



- go — 

any chance for success, I would join your troop, if you would 
take me. As it is, if I am paroled I will go home and stay 
there." All the rest promised faithfully to keep the parole. 

The command, under Captain Johnson, was sent north to 
join Early in what proved to be the last campaign in defense of 
the valley. The prisoners, with the exception of the three offi- 
cers mentioned, were to be conducted to the nearest railroad de- 
pot, and sent to the point in the route nearest the enemy's lines. 
It was determined by Buford to place Lizzie in Richmond, uiuler 
the car^of a widowed cousin of his mother. Tom Jones and an- 
other soldier were selected as a guard for the prisoners to the 
prison in Richmond. The old family carriage was brought out, 
and they started to Danville, from ther.ee to take the cars to 
Richmond. Nothing since the commencement of the war had so 
tended to depress the feelings of the Campbell family as the events 
of the last few days. The favorite of them all had left them, and 
it was uncertain when they would see her again. Buford was 
loved by them all, and they realized that his life was in continual 
danger. The wedding was a very different affair from that 
pictured to herself years ago by Mrs. James Campbell, when she 
hoped to see her beloved Lizzie led to the altar by a talented 
young lawyer, surrounded by all the elegancies that wealth could 
supply. They now began to anticipate all the horrors that could 
befall a conquered people, and with sadness and tears the}- re- 
turned to the daily routine of their duties. 

Lizzie was very kindly received by Mrs. Morton, who, in her 
isolation, her daughters being married and her only son in the 
army, was much cheered by the presence of a young companion. 
Although much depressed by recent events, the people of Rich- 
mond still made efforts to keep up a cheerful society. Although 
Lizzie had spent several years at school in Richmond, she had no 
acquaintances there, and was much pleased at receiving an occa- 
sional call from Miss Nelson who was continuing with unabated 
zeal her attentions to hospitals, and was much respecled, being 
eceived into the highest circles of society, when her duties would 



— 9i — 

permit her to visit. Mrs. Davis, who had heard of the brilliant 
reputation of young Buford, now raised to- the rank of Colonel, 
but without the men to constitute a regiment, called on his wife 
and gave her a pressing invitation to visit the executive mansion. 
Lizzie, not realizing the hopelessness of the cause in which her 
husband was engaged, enjoyed herself in the charming society of 
Richmond. Being well educated and well read she rapidly ac- 
quired the polish of refined society, and became one of the most 
admired of the ladies of the city. Her husband paid her occa- 
sional visits, and although his go<xl sense told him that there was 
little hope for his cause, would not sadden her by telling her so. 
She was proud of hearing him spoken of in terms of the highest 
praise by every one. 

Buford accompanied Early in his last campaign for the de- 
fense of the valley. This campaign was characterized by brilliant 
success in the beginning, to end in irretrievable disaster. This 
was inevitable, from the vast concentration of fiesh forces to op- 
pose his small force, which, although elated by victory, could 
not withstand the vastly superior forces led by an able, daring 
and wary general. In this campaign Buford and his small com- 
mand rode in sight of Washington, on the left bank of the Poto- 
mac. His little command was one of the last to leave the valley, 
after Early's terrible defeat 19th of October, and witnessed much 
of the devastation of that unfortunate section, a devastation and 
willful destruction of property seldom equalled in modern times, 
for which impartial history will show that Lincoln and Grant as 
well as Sheridan, were responsible, and from the opprobrium of 
which posterity will not clear them, until it justifies the destruc- 
tion of the Palitinate by Louis XIV, for which his memory is 
still execrated by the German people. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Towards the close of October, Dr. Jones and the prisoner, 
Captain Edwards, who had become fast friends, were conversing 
in the yard of the Libby prison. 



— 92 — 

"Well Doctor,'" said the Captain, "I learn that some of the 
prisoners, myself among them, are to be moved to another 
prison. Can you tell me the reason ?" 

"To be plain with you, Captain," said the Doctor, "we can- 
not feed you all here. You know you have little enough here 
now, and your friends have so cut off communication from the 
few places from which we obtain supplies that we cannot give 
you that little any longer. Your General is the least chivalrous 
of men, as he knows that a word from him wculd release you all. 
He would rather you would all starve and die of disease in prison 
than return an equal number of our men, who might be organ- 
ized into an army to fight him. He goes on the principle of the 
unskillful player of checkers, who has the laiger number of men 
given him by his more skillful opponent ; he knows that he gains 
by an uneven swap. This may be wise policy, but is against the 
usage of modern war. It is a tacit acknowledgment o! our su- 
periority." 

The Captain replied : "Such treatment is hard to bear, but I 
will not be a censurer of my government, at least not until I get 
out of prison. But Doctor, it may be that I may never see you 
again : tell me what you really think of 1 lie state of affairs now." 

The Doctor answered, ''I think overtures for surrender 
should be made immedi itely after the Presidential election, what- 
ever he the result of that election. It matters not for what we 
are contending, when it becomes manifest we cannot obtain it, it is 
folly to contend farther. We are now just in that situation. If 
McClellan is elected, and I have no idea he will be, the difficulty 
will be settled on conservative principles, and the South will not 
be utterly ruined. In no event can its independence be estab- 
lished or the institution of slavery continued. If McClellan is 
elected, abolition will take place gradually and without shock to 
society, but if Lincoln is re-elected, as I believe he will be such 
is the obstinacy of Mr. Davis and the Congress that there will be 
no surrender until our armies are annihilated and our fields are 
still farther devasted and many of our cities burned, and the ne- 



groes turned loose in mass. Had the amiable Mr. Lincoln, be- 
fore going into office, been told that such things would happen 
during his administration, his reply would have been similar to 
that of the amiable Lord Hazael to the prophet. You see I take 
a gloomy view of the near future. But such is the energy of our 
people that, I believe Phoenix like, they will arise and probably 
enter upon a new era of prosperity and finally outstrip the North 
in material development, as we excel that section in variety of 
resources, great as they are. When the war ceases, the despot- 
ism established in the North will end, and free government be 
restored. But we will all be standing on dangerous ground. You 
have destroyed the old constitution, and conservatism has re- 
ceived a great shock. The Northern people are restless and vis- 
ionary, and when slavery is out of the way, the strife between 
capital and labor will commence and no man can foresee where it 
will end. In the ruin of the slave-holding planter the laborer 
has lost his only wealth}' friend, the planter, though a capitalist, 
being identified in interest with the laborer. The present s\ s- 
tem of holding property will not be attacked by the poor and 
illiterate alone, but by writers of the greatest ability. I have 
read a remarkable article, by Prof. Joseph R. Buchanan, in Her- 
ald of Youth published in Cincinnati, in 1847, on the nationaliza- 
tion of land. The writer advocates the abolishing of private 
ownership of land by a gradually increased taxation, so that this 
tax would finally become so high the owner could no longer hold 
it. This writer also advocated the gradual emancipation of the 
slaves His reasons for advocating the abolition of the private 
ownership of land, in some respects, were the same as for abol- 
ishing the ownership of slaves. All must admit that all titles to 
slaves are deiective, inasmuch as if we trace them back, we will 
finally come to some one who had no right to the ancestor of the 
slave conveyed ; so if we trace back land titles to their origin we 
find they were given by those who had no just title to them 
themselves. Well, we will see what will be the result if we live. 
But I am much mistaken if conservatism does not receive such a 



— 94 — 

shock in the abolition of slaver) - that a radical change, in the 
tenure of all property, will be brought about, probably not with- 
out another bloody revolution."' Here the conversation ended. 
The Captain, in a few days, was conveyed to Andersonville, 
where he remained until released by the events of the war. 

Such were the views of Doctor Jones, and we, alter the lapse 
of more than a quarter of a century must come to the conclusion 
that the government of the United States was wrong in waging 
war against the seceded States. These States, free and independent 
and so acknowledged by Great Britain, had entered into a union 
for mutual benefit; and when, in their judgment, the union had 
become detrimental to their interests, it was their right to devise 
means to secure their interests, and the fact that they were not 
wise in the means they used did not justify the other States in 
waging a cruel and relentless war against them. We must not 
do evil that good may come of it. We can never be so sure that 
any end we may contemplate will be so beneficial, if attained, as 
to justify wrong means to attain it. The end aimed at by the 
United States was the continued union of the States and the abo- 
lition of slavery. Who knew then, who knows now, that these 
things were not purchased at too high a price, when to attain 
them it was necessary to conquer a good and noble people, to sac- 
rifice more than a million of lives, and to bring untold suffering 
upon millions more ? In addition to these things, a precedent 
was set for the uncompensated confiscation of property. It is 
now the fashion to glorify the prominent actors in the war, in 
both civil and military capacities, showing less good taste than 
the old Romans exhibited who never allowed a triumph for any 
success gained in civil strife. The just and candid man whether 
or not he believes it was right to hold the African in slavery, if 
he understands the condition of the slave before the war and the 
sentiments of the Southern people, will come to the conclusion 
that sudden abolition forced by outsideis was a great evil. The 
Southern people were Christian and humane. 

The condition of the slave was all the time improving, and 



— 95- 

would have been ameliorated more rapidly, if it had not been for 
outside interference. Without this interference, whether the 
Southern States had remained in the union or not, emancipation 
would have taken place, and the relations of the races would 
have been more satisfactorily adjusted than can be now done 
Why write these views now? Simply to record what the writer 
believes to be true, and \o cause some young man, who, from 
reading the popular histories, is filled with admiration for some 
prominent actor in the great drama, to pause and reflect, whether 
or not this man has been actuated by right principles. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

The spring of 1865 had come and the sun of the Confederacy 
was setting in clouds and darkness. It is wonderful with what 
tenacity the people of Virginia hung on to the lost cause. Al- 
though at this time half of her territory was held by hostile 
forces, and the inhabitants of the other were suffering for the 
necessaries of life, and entirely isolated from trade with the rest 
of the world, they would not give up hope. Men are so blinded 
by their wishes and their passions that many of the most intelli- 
gent thought the South still had some prospect of success, among 
them was President Davis. As an illustration, a Confederate 
Congressman from Arkansas, a very intelligent man, informed 
the writer that he was hopeful of success until Lee evacuated 
Richmond, when the hopelessness of the situation was first re- 
vealed to his view. 

Lee had evacuated Richmond and Petersburg and was mak- 
ing a forlorn effort to join Johnscou. Whilst he was at Farm- 
ville, his small cavalry force on the north of the Apomatox, with 
their accustomed gallantry, had repelled the enemy. Here, on 
the 6th of April, Buford was riding at the head of his troop re- 
duced to about one hundred and fifty men. In spite of toil and 
privation he was in perfect health, and as he rode along his line, 
it could be seen that his magnificent physique was unimpaired. 



- 9 6- 

His uniform, though faded, was in tolerable good repair, and his 
horse, though lean, in good condition 

On the march he beckoned to Tom Jones to join him. When 
Tom joined the army, he was small and boyish looking, now in 
spite of his rags and bare feet, he looked every inch the soldier. 
His form had broadened, and although below the medium height, 
he was a man of great muscular power, and so good was his con- 
stitution that hunger, cold and toil had not impaired it. His 
light, sandy colored hair and beard were long, and his naturally 
fair complexion had been changed by sun and wind to an almost 
solid red. His clear, blue eye was undimmed, and in spite of de- 
feat, he bore himself as a man. On his approach, Buford re- 
marked, "Tom, it is all over with us, and I want to talk to you 
some. I almost blame myself, who was so much better info:med 
than you, for influencing you to join the arm}', where you have 
suffered so much and spent so much of your young manhood in 
a hopeless struggle." 

Tom replied, "Do not blame yourself, Willie, I should have 
joined without your solicitation, and I have never lor a moment 
regretted my course. I believe now I am fighting in a just cause, 
and I am not one o! those that believes that right is always suc- 
cessful in this world, but I had rather be right and fail than be 
wrong and succeed. But a good many of the men of late are be- 
ginning to say the Yankees must be right else they could not 
beat us. It is a pleasure to me tha r I have been permitted to 
serve under you almost all the time." 

Alter musing a few moments, Buford replied, "Do you know, 
Tom, that I think this is the last conversation I shall ever have 
with you, and that is why I called you out. I feel the shadow of 
death on me." 

Tom replied, although he could not help from feeling a shud- 
der at Buford's manner of speaking, "Do not give way to such 
feelings. It is strange to hear you talk so, who have led us so 
long and so bravely and have always been ready to cheer u« in all 
our difficulties ; O ! you will live and fare no worse than the rest 



of us. I have always loved you, and will stick to you to the last. 
You always took up for me at school when bigger and richer 
boys wanted to impose upon me." 

"Yes, Tom," he replied, "but you always weie plucky. You 
remember the threshing you gave Jim Slocum, who was older 
and a great deal larger than you, and I did nothing but see you 
have fair play. Mr. Nelson heard of it, but would not let it be 
known that he knew anything about it, for he was glad that Slo- 
cum was threshed. But Slocum 's father was angry and would 
have an investigation that ended in his son's expulsion from 
school and you receiving a light flogging, for Mr. Nelson would 
not strike hard. Now, my Iriend, as you have always been faith- 
ful and true, and I can say that, in all the armies engaged in this 
war, there has not been a better soldier, I am going to make some 
requests of you. Here is a letter, deliver it to my father, and 
here is a ring for Lizzie. Tell her that hers was the last name I 
called. Now I must be going, fall into line, Tom." 

In about half an hour a column of the enemy's cavalry was 
seen approaching. Buford rode along his line with all his accus- 
tomed fire. He gave command in a firm tone, close up ranks, 
charge. There was a discharge of firearms and a shock of oppos- 
ing forces, hand to hand, and the enemy were repulsed, and re- 
treated. Tom who had kept his eyes on Buford, saw him waver 
in his saddle and fall. He rushed to him and dismounted. But 
he was dead, shot through the heart. He bore on his shoulder 
the heavy body to a cottage near by, and did not leave it until he 
. had seen it decently buried, and had marked the place of the 
grave. The cavalry had now become disorganized, and every 
man was shifting ior himself. Tom hovered around until it was 
ascertained that Lee had surrendered, when he bent his course 
towards home. His ride was solitary, and he saw universal deso- 
lation, fences all burned, and the site of many houses represented 
by heaps of ashes and falling chimneys. The few people he met 
were terror stricken. They gave him, when asked, a piece of 
corn bread and some potatoes; his horse had to elepend upon the 



- 9 8- 

grass found near the streams. He slept at night in out-houses 
and sheds. On the filth day, near noon, he passed the old Camp- 
hell homestead and saw old Hannibal plowing in the field alone, 
his sons having joined a crowd of negroes going in search of 
freedom. He soon met James Campbell and communicated to 
him the sad news On approaching his home, he saw his sister 
plowing with a miserably thin horse, and his father, who was 
much crippled with rheumatism, hobbling along and doing what 
he could with a hoe. In spite of his beard and his rags, Tom 
was soon recognized by his family and received with joy into 
their arms. W.ien the story of Buford's death was told, there 
went up a wail of sorrow from that humble home, for the sad 
fate of the beautiful, the brave and the good. Tom, with the in- 
domitable energy that characterized him and so many of the Con- 
federate soldiers, lost not a day, but went to work, and was soon 
seen following his war-horse hitched to a plow. 

The unconquerable spirit of these men is worthy of being 
recorded by the historian. In all the occupations of life, in poli- 
tics, in the professions, in the ministry, in merchandising and in 
farming, in their own States and in other States in the South and 
in the North, they continue to occupy a foremost place among 
their fellow citizens. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

In December, 1865, just ten years from the opening of this 
story, a mournful procession proceeded out of the town of Dan- 
ville. It consisted of Judge Buford and his two daughters and 
Harlow Heath, 10 whom the gentle Amanda had given her hand, 
and numerous friends who were conveying the remains of Mrs. 
Buford and her son to their last resting place, in the old family 
burying ground. They were buried the- next day amid a large 
concourse of sorrowing and sympathizing friends and neighbors. 
When Judge Buford and Mr. Creath met, the two old men silent- 
ly grasped each other's hands and wept, as the memory of all the 



— 99 — 

past came to their minds. They thought of their pleasant church 
meetings so constantly attended by the Judge and his amiable 
and pious wife, and of the family circle, in which Mr. death had 
so often been an honored guest and of the bright, handsome boy, 
the pride of his parents and beloved of his sisters, and they called 
to mind the old minister's two noble grandsons, whom the re- 
lentless war had taken from him, the props and comforts of his 
old age. 

Lizzie was absent. She told the Judge it was more than she 
could bear to be present at the old home, and that her mother 
and brother and sisters must come to Richmond to see her. The 
Judge had returned to Richmond after the war, and had accepted 
a government appointment in hope of being of some service to 
his native State. He was now rich, and he determined to spend 
the rest of his life in Virginia. He soon sought for and found 
Lizzie and her infant, the little Willie, born after the death of 
his father. He took her to his house as one of his daughters. 

While he was in Chicago, his older daughter had been much 
admired, and her hand sought by some of the wealthiest aid 
most distinguished of the land, but she was true to Lamont, and 
constantly averred that she would never marry any man who had 
ever worn the blue. Poor Lamont was one of the last prisoners 
exchanged, and had gone back to the army in time to lose an 
■arm, get a disfiguring wound in the face in one of ti e last battles 
of the war. He wrote a letter to Letitia telling of all his misfor- 
tunes, and in view of them, releasing her from her engagement. 
But she would not release him, and he had visited her in Rich- 
mond. Their marriage was postponed on account of the death 
of her mother. They were married the next autumn and went 
to South Carolina, Judge Buford furnishing the money to build 
a handsome dwelling in place of the one burned by Sherman's 
men. 

Lamont became one of the leading men of his State, co-op- 
erating with Wade Hampton, in all his efforts to restore prosper- 
ity. The discovery of phosphate beds on his estate has made 



him a very rich man, and Letitia is considered one of the most 
beautiful and accomplished wo me i in the society of Charleston. 
Heath settled in Richmond where he- became one of the leading- 
lawyers. 

As the years passed, the affections of Judge Buford became 
centered on his grands »u. Lizzie made her home with him. 
She was much admired, and had brilliant offers of marriage, all 
of which she rejected, saying she had lost her first and only love, 
and no other man should ever occupy his place. Tne boy grew 
up strong, handsome and intelligent. On the Judge saying be- 
fore some friends, thai his greatest hope was that he would in all 
things resemble his father, some one remarked, except in his 
rebel proclivities. The Judge replied, "in all things, my son fol- 
lowed the dictates of his conscience, and I can wish no one to do 
otherwise." 

Mr. Campbell received a handsome remuneration for hiscare 
of the Buford estate during the difficult and trying times of the 
war, and was continued in its management. He made money 
rapidly, and became one of the leading men of the community, 
his only mortification being his defeat, for the Legis ature by old 
Hannibal in the daysof reconstruction. He, after faithful service 
during the war, turned Republican in his old age and opposed 
and defeated his young master. Before the election he said to 
him, "Mars Jeems, I hates to run agin you, I raised you and 
think more ol you than any other white man, but I is gwine to 
beat you if 1 kin. The colored folks is free and wants somebody 
ofder own color to speak lor them in de Legislature." Hanni- 
bal, like politicians of another color, based his claims to office on 
his philanthropy, not letting it be known that he was at all in- 
fluenced by ambition, and above all by the prospect of receiving 
five dollars a day lor his valuable services. 

Mrs. Campbell is much beloved and respected in the 
(-immunity. She is happy in her home and family, but she fre- 
quently heaves a sigh of regret when she thinks of the noble boy, 
her first friend among strangers after she left her relatives in a 



distant land. vShe sometimes visits her relatives in the North, 
and receives their visits in return with old-fashioned hospitality. 

Tom Jones delivered Willie's last letter to his father, and was 
ever after treated by hi.n in the kindest and most liberal manner. 
He was given good and profitable employment, in which he 
greatly prospered, and soon led to the altar Mr. Nelson's youngest 
daughter, a bright, rosy, amiable girl. 

Dr. Stoval remains at his old home, reasonably prosperous 
and honored by all. His son, John, had the good fortune to es- 
cape unhurt from the war, and is filling his father's place as phy- 
sician of his neighborhood. The old Doctor feels keenly the death 
and absence of many old friends, especially Judge Buford and 
Mr. Nelson, the latter going West a few years after the war. 

Poor Mrs. Preston did not long survive her son's ignominious 
end, and Col. Preston soon followed her. His large estate was 
divided and sold, and after paying mortgages, gave only a scanty 
support for his daughters. 

Soon after tiie close of the war, Captain Edwards and Miss 
Nelson were married and settled in a pleasant village in Indiana, 
where he soon became a prosperous merchant. Mr. Nelson made 
his home with his oldest and favorite daughter, Mrs. Nelson hav- 
ing died during the war After Cleveland's election, he was per- 
suaded to apply for the village postoffice, but he refused to inter- 
fere with Mr. Norton, the incumbent, to whom he was much 
attached, notwithstanding the latter was a Republican. Mr. 
Norton was a bachelor, from Connecticut, and for a long time a 
teacher, but as new modes of teaching came in vogue and age 
advanced, he would no longer obtain good situations, and the 
postoffice was a good resource for his declining years. He and 
Mr. Nelson held endless arguments on States rights and the jus- 
tifiableness of slavery, and neither could convince the other. 
When the argument waxed too warm, Mr. Norton would propose 
a game of chess, of whi^h both were very fond, and all else would 
soon be forgotten in its mysteries. Mr. Nelson could never be 
persuaded to vote until Cleveland was a candidate for the second 



_U 



/f 3J 



time. Losing this vote, he will probably never be induced to vote 
again, believing that constitutional government in this country 
is lost beyond redemption. He often speaks, with great feeling, 
of the sad death of Willie Buford, who, he says, was the best and 
brightest pupil he ever had, and if he had lived, would have be- 
come one of the nation's greatest men. And Mrs. Edwards, 
though blessed with a kind husband and interesting children has 
never forgotten the young hero who won her earliest affections. 




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